Chicago, Illinois, USA: The Overseas Friends of the BJP (OFBJP) in Chicago held a special gathering at the National India Hub to honour the National Democratic Alliance’s significant win in the Bihar Assembly elections. The victory—202 seats out of 243, including 89 secured by the BJP—was celebrated as a major political achievement for both India and the Indian diaspora.

Newly elected MLA Sujit Kumar joined the event virtually from India as the Chief Guest. Representing the Gaura Bauram constituency in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar, he connected with attendees through Zoom. Kumar, a first-time legislator, began his address with a greeting in Maithili, the local language of his region.

Kumar has an extensive academic and professional background. He completed his master’s and MPhil at Jawaharlal Nehru University—an institution known for its left-leaning student ecosystem—and belongs to a growing number of BJP leaders who graduated from JNU. Notable cabinet members like Nirmala Sitharaman and S. Jaishankar are also alumni. Before entering politics, Kumar served for 25 years in the Indian Revenue Service, undertaking key responsibilities during his tenure.

The Chicago event opened with Vedic chants led by community figure Rohit Joshi. Amar Upadhyay greeted the attendees, while Rakesh Malhotra conducted the program as the emcee. Leaders from local Bihar and Jharkhand associations also participated, sharing their insights and congratulating the community.

During his speech, Kumar highlighted his goals for Bihar’s future development, emphasising growth in agriculture and tourism. He noted that Bihar holds sacred sites significant to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, offering major potential for spiritual tourism.

Toward the end of the event, members of OFBJP Chicago extended an invitation to Sujit Kumar to visit Chicago soon and meet the diaspora in person.