The Bihar Assembly witnessed a heated altercation today between Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, which quickly devolved into personal attacks involving their respective fathers.
The verbal duel erupted when Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, made a reference to the language used by Choudhary’s father at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rallies. In response, Choudhary fired back, accusing Yadav’s father, former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, of corruption and sending him to jail.
War of words over government performance
Tejashwi Yadav launched his attack by criticising the current administration, arguing that the governance under his father Lalu Prasad Yadav was significantly better than the present government.
He lambasted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership, stating, “The government is a wreck, the system is useless, the Chief Minister is tired and defeated, and the common man is left helpless. Even if this government stays in power for 40 years, it will keep making the same allegations it did before 2005.”
Turning to Samrat Choudhary, Yadav taunted him over his past political stance. “Earlier, Samrat ji used to criticise the BJP. What happened now?” he questioned.
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Personal jabs take over the debate
As Yadav continued his critique, he shifted his focus to Choudhary’s father, Shakuni Choudhary, a veteran politician known for switching allegiances between Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar.
“Samrat Choudhary is sitting here. I do not want to name his father. But we all know the kind of language he used at BJP rallies and the words he chose for the Chief Minister. You were present on those occasions. Did your father not use abusive words for Nitish Kumar? Stand up and deny it if you can,” Yadav challenged.
His remarks triggered an uproar among BJP legislators. An enraged Samrat Choudhary retaliated with sharp accusations, saying, “What did your father say? He looted Bihar. He looted the poor. He robbed the entire state.”
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Political rivalry and party shifts
Choudhary further accused Lalu Prasad Yadav of orchestrating his imprisonment, asserting, “I have been to jail. Lalu Prasad sent me to jail. It was only under the leadership of Nitish Kumar…”
However, before he could complete his statement, Tejashwi Yadav interjected, pointing out Choudhary’s past association with the RJD. “From which party did you win the last time? It was our party. After that, you are fated to lose,” Yadav declared.
Undeterred, Choudhary scoffed, “Do you consider yourself a king?” To this, Yadav shot back, “At least I have not used any abusive words.”
Samrat Choudhary’s political career has seen multiple shifts. He was initially a minister in the Rabri Devi-led government when Lalu Prasad Yadav was imprisoned in the fodder scam. He remained with the RJD even after it lost power in 2005. However, in 2014, he joined a rebel faction and aligned himself with the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) under Jitan Ram Manjhi’s leadership.
By 2017, he switched allegiance to the BJP, which recognized his potential as a firebrand leader and a prominent face of the influential Koeri caste.
His ascent in the BJP has been rapid—holding positions as vice-president of the state unit, legislative council member, and minister in Nitish Kumar’s government. In March 2023, he was appointed the state BJP chief.
His father, Shakuni Choudhary, has had an equally dynamic political career. A former army man turned politician, he started his journey with the Congress and frequently oscillated between aligning with Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar.
The Assembly session, meant for discussing governance, turned into a personal showdown between two key political figures, highlighting Bihar’s deep-rooted political rivalries. As both leaders continue to spar over their fathers’ legacies, the state’s political landscape remains as turbulent as ever.
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