Congress Targets Bihar Deputy CM Over Age Claims

A fresh political storm has erupted in Bihar as Congress leader Supriya Shrinate accused Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of repeatedly misrepresenting his age in official election affidavits. The allegations have reignited debates around electoral ethics and candidate transparency.
Supriya Shrinate pointed to a Supreme Court ruling from 2003 that cited Choudhary’s birth year as 1981. Based on this, she argued that he should be 44 years old in 2025. However, in his latest affidavit, Choudhary declared his birth year as 1968, making him 56. This 12-year gap has raised serious questions about the authenticity of his declarations.
Shrinate reminded the public that Choudhary’s election from Parbatta in 2000 was annulled by the Supreme Court due to age fraud. At the time, he was found to be underage for contesting, which led to his resignation from the ministerial post. She claimed this pattern of altering age details has continued over the years.
The Congress party has formally requested the Election Commission to investigate the discrepancies and take appropriate action. Shrinate emphasized that such manipulation undermines the democratic process and violates constitutional norms.
While BJP leaders have dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, opposition parties have rallied behind Congress, demanding accountability. Political strategist Prashant Kishor also questioned Choudhary’s educational qualifications, adding fuel to the controversy.
The issue has sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms. Some citizens expressed concern over the integrity of elected representatives, while others viewed the timing of the allegations as election propaganda.
Legal analysts noted that if proven, the discrepancies could lead to disqualification under the Representation of the People Act. They stressed the importance of accurate disclosures in maintaining the credibility of the electoral system.
With Bihar gearing up for the 2025 assembly elections, the controversy has added a new layer of tension. Political observers believe this issue could influence voter sentiment, especially among youth and first-time voters.
Activists and civil society groups have called for stricter verification mechanisms for candidate affidavits. They urged the Election Commission to introduce biometric validation and centralized age records to prevent future manipulation.
As the Election Commission reviews the complaint, all eyes are on its response. The outcome could set a precedent for how affidavit discrepancies are handled in future elections across India.