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{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1936)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Shakuni Choudhary
| image = File:Shakuni Chaudhary.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1936|01|04|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Lakhanpur, [[Munger district]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br>(present day [[Bihar]], India)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency = [[Khagaria (Lok Sabha constituency)|Khagaria]], [[Bihar]]
| term = 10 March 1998 — 26 April 1999
| predecessor = [[Anil Kumar Yadav (politician, born 1956)|Anil Kumar Yadav]]
| successor = [[Renu Kumari Singh]]
| office1 = Member of [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency1 = [[Tarapur Assembly constituency]]
| term1 = 1985-1998
| predecessor1 =
| office2 = Member of [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency2 = [[Tarapur Assembly constituency]]
| term2 = 2000-2010
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = [[Neeta Choudhary]]
| party = {{Party index link|Samata Party}}
| other_party = {{Party index link|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}<br>{{Party index link|Janata Dal (United)}}<br>{{Party index link|Hindustani Awam Morcha}}
| spouse = [[Parvati Devi (Bihar politician)|Parvati Devi]]
| children = 5 (incl. [[Samrat Choudhary]])
| education = Diploma in Automobile Engineering
| alma_mater = Baroda School of Engineering, [[Vadodara]]
| profession = {{hlist|Former Armyman|Engineer}}
| website =
| footnotes =
| date =
| year =
| source = https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3852.htm
}}

'''Shakuni Choudhary''' (born 4 January 1936) is an Indian politician who is a founding member of [[Samata Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19941115-new-samata-party-leaders-do-better-than-mungeri-lal-809919-1994-11-15|title=New Samata Party leaders do better than TV's Mungeri Lal - Laloo Prasad Yadav|website=india today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116092307/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19941115-new-samata-party-leaders-do-better-than-mungeri-lal-809919-1994-11-15|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=16 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SAMATA PARTY – Official Website|url=https://samataparty.org/|access-date=2022-02-16|language=en-US|archive-date=15 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215101928/https://samataparty.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]], lower house of the [[Parliament of India]] from [[Khagaria Lok Sabha constituency]] as member of the [[Samata Party]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3852.htm | title=Shakuni Choudhury Lok Sabha Profile | publisher=[[Lok Sabha]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116064518/http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3852.htm | accessdate=1 June 2016| archive-date=16 November 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/archive/electionanalysis/GE/PartyCompWinner/S04/partycomp28.htm | title=Partywise Comparison since 1977 Khagaria Parliamentary Constituency | publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] | accessdate=1 June 2016 | archive-date=10 May 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510101104/http://eci.nic.in/archive/electionanalysis/GE/PartyCompWinner/S04/partycomp28.htm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="People1998">{{cite book|author=India. Parliament. House of the People|title=Lok Sabha Debates|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tL5XAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=1 June 2016|year=1998|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat.|page=1|archive-date=26 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426084515/https://books.google.com/books?id=tL5XAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> Choudhary has been known for political defection and has remained [[Deputy Speaker]] in the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]. Chaudhary is a six time MLA from [[Tarapur Assembly constituency]] of Munger district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/munger-bihar-politics-bjp-candidate-shakuni-choudhary-son-samrat-choudhary-filed-nomination-from-tarapur-munger-today-for-bihar-election-2025-40010999.html|title=Bihar Politics: पिता शकुनी चौधरी की तूती बोलती है यहां, तारापुर से सम्राट चौधरी आज करेंगे नामांकन, जुटेंगे देशभर के दिग्गज |website=Jagran|accessdate=23 November 2025}}</ref>

He was a former loyal to the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] (RJD) but left the party on the ground of it promoting the interest of [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]'s family. The defection happened soon after his son [[Samrat Choudhary]] orchestrated a split in RJD by alienating thirteen MLAs to seek recognition as separate splinter group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/shakuni-chaudhary-and-five-rjd-leaders-join-jd-u-114031200798_1.html|title=Shakuni Chaudhary and five RJD leaders join JD(U)|website=Business Standard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116075410/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/shakuni-chaudhary-and-five-rjd-leaders-join-jd-u-114031200798_1.html|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=16 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3852.htm|title=Members Bioprofile|accessdate=17 July 2023|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219162953/https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3852.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life ==
[[File:Nitish Kumar with Samrat Chaudhary and Shakuni Choudhary at latter's house warming ceremony.jpg|thumb|Shakuni Choudhary and his son Samrat Chaudhary hosting Nitish Kumar at their house warming ceremony on 14 October 2024.]]
Choudhary was born on 4 January 1936 in Lakhanpur village of [[Munger district]]. He is married to Parvati Devi. Choudhary belongs to [[Koeri]] community and had claimed to hold significant hold over his community in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Caste-leaders-image-hit-for-six/articleshow/1313909.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110130519/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Caste-leaders-image-hit-for-six/articleshow/1313909.cms?from=mdr |title=Caste leaders' image hit for six|website=Times of India|access-date=2020-11-16|url-status= live|archive-date=10 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/bihar/loss-lesson-for-party-hoppers/cid/459659|title=Loss lesson for party-hoppers|website=The Telegraph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116094141/https://www.telegraphindia.com/bihar/loss-lesson-for-party-hoppers/cid/459659|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=16 November 2020}}</ref>
His ancestral village is in Lakhanpur in Tarapur block of [[Munger district]]. His son [[Samrat Choudhary]] is the [[Chief Minister of Bihar]] from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. Choudhary has served in the [[Indian Army]] for 15 years after that he joined active politics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/ham-bihar-chief-quits-157720|title=HAM Bihar chief quits|website=The Tribune|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=6 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806005005/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/ham-bihar-chief-quits-157720|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/bjp-declares-candidates-for-bihar-legislative-council-polls-853250.html|title=BJP declares candidates for Bihar legislative council polls|website=Deccan Herald|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=26 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426163530/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/bjp-declares-candidates-for-bihar-legislative-council-polls-853250.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Political career ==

Choudhary was elected to the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] from [[Tarapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Tarapur constituency]] in [[Munger district]] of [[Bihar]] in 1985 as [[Independent politician]]. Later joined [[Indian National Congress]] and won the same seat in [[1990 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]]. In [[1995 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]], he shifted allegiance to [[Samata Party]] of [[George Fernandes]].<ref name="jansatta">{{cite web|url=https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/bihar/bihar-mewalala-chaudhary-and-shakuni-chaudhary-on-tarapur-seat-why-have-been-a-place-of-discussion/1574925/|title=ब‍िहार: पद संभालते ही इस्‍तीफे को मजबूर हुए मेवालाल से पहले शकुनी चौधरी के चलते भी बदनाम हुई है तारापुर सीट|website=Jansatta|accessdate=8 March 2023|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126181704/https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/bihar/bihar-mewalala-chaudhary-and-shakuni-chaudhary-on-tarapur-seat-why-have-been-a-place-of-discussion/1574925/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1995 Bihar Assembly elections, the Tarapur constituency came into limelight, when the candidate of [[Indian National Congress]], Sachidanand Singh was attacked by [[grenade]]s along with his supporters. Singh was taken to a hospital at Tarapur; the hospital was subsequently attacked and Singh was assassinated. In these subsequent incidents, nine people were killed. A total of thirty three people were accused in this case, among them, Choudhary was one of the main accused. However, the investigations were halted after some time. Soon after this incident, in the counting of votes, Choudhary was declared winner in the 1995 Assembly elections.<ref name="jansatta"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bihar-deputy-cm-samrat-choudhary-prashant-kishor-lawyer-filed-affidavit-10326764/|title= Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary responds to PK's attacks: 'My lawyer filed affidavit that said I was a minor … but court did not accept it'|website=Indian express|accessdate=23 November 2025}}</ref>

In 1998, he was elected to [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Khagaria (Lok Sabha constituency)|Khagaria]], [[Bihar]], as member of the [[Samata Party]] by defeating [[Anil Kumar Yadav (politician, born 1956)|Anil Kumar Yadav]] of [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]. He was elected to [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] in [[2000 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2000 Bihar Election]] from [[Tarapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Tarapur constituency]] as a member of [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] and was made a minister in [[Rabri Devi |Rabri Devi cabinet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/shakuni-quits-electoral-politics-ham-s-post/articleshow/49774051.cms|title=Shakuni quits electoral politics, HAM-S|website=Times of India|accessdate=19 February 2023|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219162735/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/shakuni-quits-electoral-politics-ham-s-post/articleshow/49774051.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, he joined the [[2015 Bihar political crisis|rebellion]] of [[Jitan Ram Manjhi]] and joined [[Hindustani Awam Morcha]] a party created by Manjhi after his exit from [[Janata Dal (United)]]. He was made Bihar State President of [[Hindustani Awam Morcha]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/jitan-ram-manjhi-announces-new-party-as-hindustani-awam-morcha/|title=Jitan Ram Manjhi announces new party as Hindustani Awam Morcha|website=Indian Express|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202141212/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/jitan-ram-manjhi-announces-new-party-as-hindustani-awam-morcha/|url-status=live}}</ref> He again contests in [[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2015 Bihar Election]] from [[Tarapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Tarapur constituency]] as a member of [[Hindustani Awam Morcha]] but lost to Mewalal Chaudhary of [[Janata Dal (United)]] by about 12,000 votes. After the dismal performance of the party, he quit the Party chief position and politics.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/shakuni-chaudhary-quits-politics/article7874771.ece | title=Shakuni Chaudhary quits politics | work=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=16 November 2020 | archive-date=16 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116084312/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/shakuni-chaudhary-quits-politics/article7874771.ece | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/bihar/bihar-shakuni-choudhary-son-samrat-bjp/1135823/|title=Samrat Chaudhary the son of Shakuni Chaudhary|website=Jansatta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116091344/https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/bihar/bihar-shakuni-choudhary-son-samrat-bjp/1135823/|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=16 November 2020}}</ref>

However, in 2019, Choudhary addressed a meeting of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] leaders and gave indication of joining active politics once again with the membership of the BJP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/news/14052-shakuni-chowdhary-emerges-from-political-retirement.html|title=Shakuni Chowdhary Emerges from Political Retirement|website=Patna Daily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116081425/https://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/news/14052-shakuni-chowdhary-emerges-from-political-retirement.html|accessdate=2020-11-16|archive-date=16 November 2020}}</ref> Between 1985 and 2010, he represented Tarapur Assembly constituency for six times with his tenure as legislator spanning over three decades. In 2021, his younger son Rohit Chaudhary was inducted into Janata Dal United by the party leadership with an eye over formidable Kushwaha votes in the constituency. It is reported that due to his influence in Munger region, the member of parliament, [[Lalan Singh]], who represents the constituency in [[Lok Sabha]] rushed to his house to take his blessing soon after filing of nomination papers by JDU candidate [[Rajeev Kumar Singh Kushwaha]] for the 2021 bypolls to ensure latter's victory .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/shakunis-younger-son-joins-jdu/articleshow/87143165.cms|title=Shakunis younger son inducted into JDU|website=Times of India|accessdate=1 February 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3852.htm Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Choudhury, Shakuni}}
[[Category:India MPs 1998–1999]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Bihar]]
[[Category:Samata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:People from Munger district]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 1990–1995]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 1985–1990]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 1995–2000]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 2000–2005]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:Hindustani Awam Morcha politicians]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Bihar]]

Shakuni Choudhary - Revision history

Veronasie: adding first details initial version