Samrat Choudhary a product of Lalu Yadav’s classroom, not elected by people of Bihar, says RJD’s Tejashwi

# Tejashwi Slams Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary

By Rajesh Verma, The India Policy Desk, April 15, 2026

**Patna, Bihar** — Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing political attack on newly appointed Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday. Shortly after Choudhary, who was elected as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader on Tuesday, officially took his oath of office, Yadav dismissed his elevation as a backroom maneuver rather than a public mandate. Yadav asserted that the new Chief Minister is fundamentally a “product of Lalu Yadav’s classroom” and was never directly elected by the people of Bihar for the top executive role, setting a contentious tone for the state’s new administration. [Source: Original RSS – Hindustan Times | Additional: The India Policy Desk Analysis].

## A Historic Transition of Power in Patna

The political landscape of Bihar witnessed a seismic shift on Wednesday morning as Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister at the Raj Bhavan in Patna. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by the Governor of Bihar in a high-profile ceremony attended by senior leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), central BJP observers, and several state dignitaries.

Choudhary’s elevation comes on the heels of a crucial BJP legislature party meeting held on Tuesday, where he was unanimously elected as the leader of the party in the state assembly. This marks a watershed moment for the BJP in Bihar. For over two decades, the saffron party had largely played a supporting role in the state, serving as the junior alliance partner to the Janata Dal (United) and its veteran leader Nitish Kumar. By placing Choudhary in the Chief Minister’s chair, the BJP has signaled a clear transition into a new era of assertive, independent state leadership.

However, the ceremonial grandeur was immediately met with fierce opposition rhetoric. The RJD, serving as the principal opposition party, utilized the moment to question the democratic legitimacy and political origins of the new Chief Minister. [Source: Original RSS – Hindustan Times | Additional: General Political History].

## Tejashwi Yadav’s “Classroom” Critique

Leading the charge against the new administration, Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav delivered a pointed critique of Choudhary’s political lineage. By dubbing Choudhary a “product of Lalu Yadav’s classroom,” Tejashwi aimed to highlight the irony of the BJP’s choice for its highest state office.

“The BJP claims to bring a new brand of politics to Bihar, yet they have to borrow leaders who learned the ABCs of politics from my father, Lalu Prasad Yadav,” Tejashwi remarked during a press briefing outside the state assembly. Furthermore, Yadav emphasized that Choudhary was “not elected by the people of Bihar” to be the Chief Minister, arguing that the public mandate was historically fractured and manipulated through post-poll alliance shifts and legislative maneuvers rather than a direct endorsement of Choudhary’s leadership.

This critique strikes at a recurring theme in Indian parliamentary democracy, where Chief Ministers are selected by the winning legislative majority rather than being directly elected to the executive office by the public. While constitutionally sound, the opposition is leveraging this procedural reality to frame Choudhary’s government as a product of political engineering rather than popular will. [Source: Original RSS – Hindustan Times].

## Tracing Samrat Choudhary’s Political Evolution

Tejashwi Yadav’s reference to “Lalu’s classroom” is rooted in verifiable political history. Samrat Choudhary’s political journey did indeed begin within the fold of the RJD. He is the son of Shakuni Choudhary, a veteran socialist leader and a founding member of the Samata Party who later aligned with Lalu Prasad Yadav.

In 1999, Samrat Choudhary was inducted into the RJD government led by then-Chief Minister Rabri Devi, becoming the youngest minister in the state cabinet—a move that even generated controversy over his age at the time. He remained a prominent figure within the RJD for over a decade before shifting political allegiances.

In 2014, Choudhary parted ways with the RJD to join Nitish Kumar’s JD(U). His political pragmatism eventually led him to the BJP, where his aggressive rhetoric and deep understanding of Bihar’s intricate caste arithmetic facilitated his rapid rise. He was appointed as the BJP state president and later served as Deputy Chief Minister. By elevating him to the Chief Minister’s office, the BJP has rewarded his vocal defense of the party and his relentless attacks on his former mentors in the RJD. However, this varied political resume provides ample ammunition for opponents who question his ideological consistency. [Source: Additional Knowledge – State Political Archives].

## The BJP’s Strategic Calculus in Bihar

Behind the swearing-in lies a complex and calculated electoral strategy by the BJP’s central leadership. Bihar’s political framework has long been dominated by the influence of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). The RJD relies heavily on its traditional Muslim-Yadav (M-Y) vote bank, while Nitish Kumar has historically commanded the Kurmi and EBC demographics.

Samrat Choudhary belongs to the Kushwaha community, a numerically significant OBC group in Bihar. By installing a Kushwaha leader at the helm, the BJP is aggressively attempting to consolidate the “Luv-Kush” (Kurmi and Kushwaha) vote bank, aiming to fracture the opposition’s broader OBC coalition.

“The BJP’s decision to crown Samrat Choudhary is less about ideological purity and more about hard caste arithmetic,” notes Dr. Arvind Sinha, an independent political sociologist based in Patna. “The party needs a combative leader from a dominant OBC caste to directly challenge the RJD’s narrative of social justice. Choudhary fits that bill perfectly, even if it means elevating a leader who spent his formative years in the rival camp.” [Source: Additional Expert Analysis].

## Analyzing the “Unelected” Allegation

Tejashwi Yadav’s assertion that Choudhary was “not elected by the people” touches upon a frequent debate within Indian state politics. Under the Indian Constitution, citizens elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), who then elect their legislative party leader to be appointed as Chief Minister by the Governor.

Dr. Meenakshi Rai, a constitutional analyst at the Center for Democratic Studies, provides context to this political framing: “Tejashwi Yadav is employing a populist argument. Constitutionally, Samrat Choudhary’s appointment is perfectly valid following his Tuesday election by the BJP legislature party. However, politically, Yadav is arguing that the public never voted with Choudhary presented as the face of the state. It is a strategic narrative designed to paint the new government as an imposition from Delhi rather than a grassroots choice from Bihar.” [Source: Additional Expert Analysis].

This narrative is likely to become the cornerstone of the RJD’s opposition strategy in the upcoming legislative sessions. By constantly reminding the electorate of Choudhary’s past and questioning his direct mandate, the RJD hopes to keep the new administration on the defensive.

## Governance Challenges Ahead for the New Chief Minister

Taking over the reins of Bihar comes with a formidable set of challenges for Samrat Choudhary. While he has successfully navigated the turbulent waters of party politics to reach the highest office, administrative governance requires a different skill set.

**Key challenges for the Choudhary administration include:**

* **Law and Order:** Maintaining the perception of security—often referred to as ‘Sushasan’ (good governance) during the NDA years—will be critical. The RJD has frequently attacked the state government over crime statistics, and as CM, the buck now stops with Choudhary.
* **Youth Unemployment:** Tejashwi Yadav has effectively captured the imagination of younger voters with promises of large-scale government jobs. Choudhary will need to deliver tangible economic development and employment opportunities to counter this narrative.
* **Coalition Management:** Even with the BJP in a commanding position, managing the egos and demands of regional NDA partners, including the factions of the LJP, JD(U), and HAM, will require delicate political diplomacy.
* **Shedding the “Imported” Label:** Choudhary will need to quickly establish himself not just as a former RJD protégé or a BJP strategist, but as a statesman capable of representing all demographics in Bihar.

## Conclusion: A High-Stakes Political Chess Match

The swearing-in of Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, represents a bold gamble by the Bharatiya Janata Party. By installing a former RJD minister at the helm of the state, the BJP has prioritized caste consolidation and aggressive anti-incumbency posturing over long-term ideological grooming.

However, as Tejashwi Yadav’s sharp criticism illustrates, the opposition will not give the new administration a honeymoon period. By framing Choudhary as an unelected product of “Lalu’s classroom,” the RJD has laid out its blueprint for the upcoming electoral cycles: questioning the BJP’s local leadership vacuum and appealing directly to the democratic sentiments of the voting public.

As Bihar embarks on this new political chapter, the state remains a critical battleground for national politics. Whether Samrat Choudhary can step out of the shadows of his former mentors and establish a definitive legacy of his own, or whether the RJD’s narrative of an “imposed” Chief Minister will resonate with the masses, will determine the trajectory of India’s most politically vibrant state. [Source: Original RSS – Hindustan Times | Additional: The India Policy Desk Analysis].