Saraogi, 57, a former cabinet minister in the Bihar government, currently serves as an MLA for the Dharbhanga constituency. He takes over from Dilip Jaiswal, who held the position for less than two years.
BJP national general secretary Arun Singh stated in a notification, “Bharatiya Janata Party national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has appointed Sanjay Saraogi as the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar with immediate effect.”
In response to his new role, Saraogi expressed to reporters that the BJP allows even a simple worker to rise to any level within the party. “The party has placed this responsibility upon me, and I will strive to meet its expectations. To me, the party is like my mother. Together, we will fortify the BJP and enhance coordination between the state government and the party,” he remarked.
“The BJP is unique in that it recognizes the contributions of every worker,” Saraogi emphasized.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chimed in on X, congratulating Saraogi on his appointment as the new head of the Bihar BJP.
“He has served alongside us as a minister in the state cabinet. This marks his fifth term as an MLA. I wish him all the best in this new endeavor,” Kumar shared.
Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also extended their greetings to Saraogi.
“Under your guidance, the Bihar BJP organization will undoubtedly achieve historic milestones with renewed energy and dedication to public service,” Choudhary noted on X.
Later, in a conversation with reporters, the Deputy CM remarked: “Saraogi’s elevation to Bihar BJP chief is akin to a double boost for the party… the first boost being Nitin Nabin’s appointment as the national working president. This decision from the top hierarchy will fortify the BJP in the forthcoming 2029-30 elections.” It is understood that Jaiswal’s replacement aligns with the BJP’s policy of ‘one person one post’. Last year, he resigned from the Nitish Kumar cabinet upon assuming the state BJP presidency, succeeding Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary.
Saraogi joined the state cabinet in February this year, taking on the pivotal Revenue and Land Reform portfolio.
However, his absence from the new ministry established last month, following the NDA’s significant victory and the BJP emerging as the largest party, raised some eyebrows.
Known for his strong stance on various issues, Saraogi began his political journey as a student activist with the ABVP, later becoming a proactive member of the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) before being appointed the president of the Darbhanga city unit of the BJP in 2001.
He made his electoral debut in the 2005 assembly elections from Darbhanga, consistently winning the seat since that time.
Similar to Jaiswal, Saraogi belongs to the Vaishya caste group, which may not hold political dominance in Bihar, yet serves as a crucial support base for the BJP.
