Politics
Bihar Election 2025: Who is Sushil Kumar, RJD's Pick for Cheria Bariarpur?
Meet Sushil Kumar, the lawyer and son of fmr. Bihar CM Satish Prasad Singh, fielded by RJD for the Cheria Bariarpur 'battle of legacies'.
Patna/Begusarai— As the bugle sounds for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, all eyes have turned to the Cheria Bariarpur (Constituency No. 141) seat in Begusarai district. This constituency has transformed into a high-profile 'battle of legacies,' with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) fielding Sushil Kumar, a new face hailing from one of Bihar's most influential political families.
The announcement of Sushil Kumar's candidacy has sparked intense discussion in political circles. Who is Sushil Kumar, and why has the RJD chosen him over its sitting MLA from a seat it won convincingly in 2020?
Sushil Kumar's primary identity is his lineage as the son of the late Satish Prasad Singh, a former Chief Minister of Bihar.
Satish Prasad Singh served as the 6th Chief Minister of Bihar and was the state's first Chief Minister from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. Although his tenure was extremely short—just five days (from January 28, 1968, to February 1, 1968)—he left a significant mark on state politics.
Sushil Kumar, 52, is a native of Saudh North village in the neighboring Khagaria district. This election marks his first major foray into electoral politics. By profession, he is a lawyer (advocate), having completed his LLB from Magadh University in 2008.
According to his election affidavit filed on October 17, 2025, Sushil Kumar is a crorepati.
Total Assets: Over ₹18 crore.
Movable Assets: ₹54.33 lakh.
Immovable Assets: ₹14.50 crore (primarily inherited).
Key Holdings: His assets include 13.63 hectares of agricultural land, a 23 lakh sq. ft. commercial building, a Scorpio vehicle (valued at ₹25 lakh), and a WagonR (₹4.50 lakh).
Weapon: He has also declared possession of a licensed NP Bore Rifle.
Liabilities: He has a bank loan of ₹16.55 lakh.
A minor case is pending against him (Case No. 24/2005, Khagaria). The charge is related to a minor dispute over "placing a flag on a property."
In Cheria Bariarpur, both the RJD and JDU have placed their bets on second-generation politicians.
RJD's Candidate: Sushil Kumar, son of former CM Satish Prasad Singh.
JDU's Candidate: To challenge the RJD, the NDA has fielded Abhishek Kumar 'Newton' from the JDU. Abhishek is the son of Manju Verma, a former state minister and the JDU's candidate in the 2020 election.
This contest is particularly interesting because, in 2020, RJD's Rajvanshi Mahto defeated JDU's Manju Verma by a significant margin of over 40,000 votes. This time, the RJD has dropped its sitting MLA (Mahto) to nominate Sushil Kumar, while the JDU has also replaced its previous candidate (Verma) with her son.
The Cheria Bariarpur seat is known for being politically active, with electoral outcomes often depending heavily on caste equations. The RJD secured a resounding victory here in 2020, banking on its strong 'M-Y' (Muslim-Yadav) support base.
Historically, the seat has been dominated by Bhumihar and Kushwaha (Koeri) community voters. Most of the MLAs elected from here have belonged to one of these two communities.
By fielding Sushil Kumar (also known as Sushil Singh Kushwaha), whose father was a prominent Kushwaha leader, the RJD has made a direct and strategic attempt to consolidate this crucial vote bank.
With both major alliances fielding "debutants" for the assembly election, the contest is set to be a direct clash between 'Nitish Kumar's governance' and 'Lalu-Tejashwi's promises,' heavily influenced by local caste alliances.
Sushil Kumar, known for his polite and accessible demeanor, is focusing his campaign on grassroots issues. While he is technically an "outsider" (being from Khagaria), his family legacy has made him a well-known figure in the region.
He is reportedly receiving strong public support during his outreach, with "RJD Zindabad" slogans echoing in various localities. He is being positioned as a beacon of hope for RJD's traditional voters and the youth.
His key campaign platforms include local development, employment, education, and improving rural infrastructure. He has also promised to be a voice for the poor, ensure caste inclusivity, and implement the RJD's core policies in Cheria Bariarpur.
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