Patna, April 14 -- Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur on Tuesday welcomed the unanimous election of Samrat Choudhary as the leader of the Bihar NDA Legislative Party.

Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, while talking to the reporters, said, "Nitish Kumar proposed his name, and he was unanimously elected as the Leader of the Bihar NDA Legislative Party. I congratulate him. The manner in which Nitish Kumar worked for the development of Bihar, Samrat Choudhar will similarly follow in his footsteps. His (Nitish Kumar) absence will be felt. But public, MLAs and MPs will work here as time and political timing."

Choudhary, who is set to become Chief Minister here, expressed gratitude to JDU chief Nitish Kumar.

"It is a matter of pride for me to have ...