In a political terrain monopolized by rituals, caste system and dynasties, one leader from Bihar is taking an entirely different route. Pushpam Priya Choudhary is the founder of The Plurals Party. She is 38-year-old, known for her unique all-black attire and resolution to keep her face covered until she wins her first election.
Who is Pushpam Priya Choudhary?
Pushpam Priya hails from Darbhanga in Bihar. She was born on June 13, 1987 to a political family. Her father Vinod Kumar Choudhary was a JD(U) MLA, her grandfather Umakant Choudhary was one of the founding members of the Samata Party and a close friend of Nitish Kumar, and her uncle Vinay Kumar Choudhary gained victory from the Benipur assembly seat in 2020.
She prepared for this role of a political leader with great background in academics. She did her schooling in Darbhanga, college in Pune, and two master’s degrees, one in Development Studies from the University of Sussex, and another in Public Governance from the London School of Economics, which she completed by 2019.
The Plurals Party and her distinct signature look
According to NDTV, Pushpam Priya Choudhary founded The Plurals Party (TPP) in the year 2020. The party undertook an agenda of reformation and plans to uproot the caste and religious divides. She is keen on promoting merit based voting and educated leadership. She carries a personal trademark which might seem unconventional but it is a sign of resistance against orthodox norms. She dresses in only black and covers her face with the mask. She promised that the mask will keep her face covered until she tastes a victory in the electoral field.
Choudhary has announced her candidature from Darbhanga for the 2025 Assembly elections. She is looking forward to break away from the rooted bipartite caste-bloc model of Bihar politics. She designed her campaign as cutting across identities, “Plurals means progress for all,”.
Her family ties with JD(U) connections cast an unusual shadow over her “anti-dynasty” angle. She must transform her image into influence, justify her mask and all-black look, and win voters who are already familiarized to celebrated parties and familiar names.
