Tenure as Panchayati Raj Minister

The tenure of Samrat Choudhary as Panchayati Raj minister was a blend of controversies and developmental steps taken by him under the jurisdictions of his ministry. In March 2021, he gained nationwide attention for getting embroiled in a strong argument with the speaker of Bihar Legislative Assembly, Vijay Kumar Sinha. The speaker was seeking his reply, on a question that was raised by an MLA, regarding working of his department. Later, he apologized to the speaker for violation of the decorum of the house. The Panchayati Raj Ministry under him took several steps for promoting better organisational structure like recruitment of more staff in sanitation department as well as paving the way for safe disposal of dead carcasses of stray animals. The ministry under him also planned to seek the intra department supports of other ministerial departments.^[16][17]

He has been accused of charges related to undue influence or personation at an election and disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.^[18]

State president of Bharatiya Janata Party

Samrat Chaudhary (extreme right) in 2023, participating in Ram Navmi Shobha Yatra with Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary.

In March 2023, Chaudhary was appointed as president of Bhartiya Janata Party for the state of Bihar, replacing Sanjay Jaiswal. As per the political analysts, the step was taken by party leadership in order to create strong foundation among the voters of Kushwaha or the koeri caste, which dominated many of the districts of Bihar and were recorded as second largest caste group after the Yadavs in state.^[19][20]

Chaudhary led BJP in Bihar after his appointment as party's state chief. Reportedly, he attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar verbally on various occasions; in May 2023, while he was trying to meet a former five time MLA of BJP Jawahar Prasad, who was incarcerated in prison for his role in Ram Navmi violence in Sasaram, he was stopped by authorities. On 3 May 2023, in a statement given to press, Chaudhary accused Nitish Kumar of promoting criminals and targeting saints; he cited the incident of release of former Member of Parliament and convicted criminal Anand Mohan Singh to support his claim.^[21] In 2023, while speaking to a gathering of BJP political workers in Begusarai, union minister Giriraj Singh projected Chaudhary as the chief ministerial candidate of BJP for 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections.^[22] In July 2023, Chaudhary, along with Vijay Kumar Sinha and other BJP leaders organised a protest on the question of ten lakh jobs, that was promised by Grand Alliance government of Nitish Kumar and Tejaswi Yadav, to win the election. The protest was led by Chaudhary and Sinha along with BJP workers. However, when the mob reached Dak Bangla Square, Patna Police initiated lathi charge on BJP workers. A worker of BJP from Jahanabad died due to severe injuries, while many other leaders like Janardan Singh Sigriwal were also beaten. In the aftermath of protest, Chaudhary, in his statement, blamed the incumbent government of Nitish Kumar for the death of their worker.^[23]

The BJP leaders were also protesting against the teacher recruitment policy of Nitish Kumar government, and the domicile issue. The government had allowed the candidate outside the state of Bihar to take the recruitment examination, hence, there was dissatisfaction in one section of local candidates from state. However, Chaudhary, along with all major state leaders of BJP were arrested during the protest.^[24]

Chaudhary is also known for his outspoken nature. In May 2023, he alleged that Janata Dal United (JDU) president Lalan Singh has served liquor at a feast organised in his Lok Sabha constituency Munger, despite knowing that government of Bihar had imposed ban on liquor since 2016. For his remark, he was criticised by JDU leaders. The state president of JDU, Umesh Singh Kushwaha even passed a censure resolution against him, at a meeting of party. Kushwaha also commented that despite belonging to a political family, Chaudhary lacks decency required by a politician.^[25] At various occasions, Chaudhary had also criticised Nitish Kumar for not promoting any Kushwaha or Kurmi leader, other than himself. He also alleged Kumar of using his peers for his own benefits.^[26]

In March 2023, soon after Chaudhary becoming the head of state wing of BJP, posters were raised by a group of BJP political workers in Patna, equating Chaudhary to Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The senior BJP leaders like former deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad evaded direct comment on this comparison, when approached by media. On the other hand, JDU alleged BJP of avoiding latter' long time faithful party leaders and promoting someone, who was an outsider to party, sometimes before.^[27]

Chaudhary continued to encircle Nitish Kumar and deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav, both inside and outside of Bihar Legislative Assembly, in his new role as BJP state chief. He became vocal in asking for resignation of Tejaswi Yadav, after chargesheet was filed against Yadav in connection with 'Land For Job' scheme, a scheme in which appropriation of land from people was done, in lieu of giving them job, in the period of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Chaudhary was also engaged in 'politics of symbolism' ; he wore a turban on his head with the resolve to remove it on the day, Nitish Kumar leaves the premiership of the state of Bihar.^[28]