It’s official now. BJP’s Samrat Choudhary will be the new Chief Minister of Bihar. Samrat was formally elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party (BJPLP) here on Tuesday after Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation to the Governor.

Later in the evening, Samrat staked claim to form his Government, the first ever BJP-headed Government in Bihar which will also have members of the JD (U), LJP, HAM and the RLP, all NDA allies.

The swearing-in will take place on April 15 at the Lok Bhawan.

Nitish on Tuesday resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar after serving the State for around 20 years. Before submitting his resignation to the Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain at the Lok Bhavan, Nitish held his last Cabinet meeting where-in he recommended the dissolution of his ministry.

“It was an emotional moment for all of us when Nitish ji said he was leaving for New Delhi but would continue to guide us and keep a watch on Bihar developments,” said the outgoing Agriculture Minister in Nitish’s Cabinet, Ram Kripal Yadav.

Nitish’s resignation thus paved the way for formation of the first BJP-led Government in Bihar. Nitish, who has been Chief Minister of Bihar since November 2005 (barring a nine-month gap from May 2014 to Feb 2015 when Jitan Ram Manjhi was Bihar CM), was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and took oath as RS member last week.