Who Is Pushpam Priya? Bihar’s Masked Political Maverick

Pushpam Priya Choudhary, founder and president of The Plurals Party (TPP), has emerged as one of Bihar’s most distinctive political figures. And her all-black garments and mask are not the only things capturing the public's attention. 

So who is Pushpam Priya Choudhary?

Academic Journey and Early Career

Born on June 13, 1987, in Darbhanga, Choudhary comes from a politically active family; her father, Binod Kumar Choudhary, served as a lawmaker in the state legislature. Her academic background sets her apart from many of her contemporaries. After completing her schooling in Darbhanga, she pursued her undergraduate studies in Pune before moving to the United Kingdom.

She holds a Master’s in Development Studies from the University of Sussex and another in Public Administration from the London School of Economics, completed in 2019. Before turning to full-time politics, she worked as a consultant in the Bihar government’s tourism and health departments, experiences she has credited with shaping her understanding of governance.

Political Vision and Public Persona

In March 2020, Choudhary launched The Plurals Party, announcing it as a platform for “new politics” in Bihar, one that seeks to transcend divisions of caste and religion. The party’s ideology revolves around plurality, equality, and evidence-based policy-making. Her slogan, “Bihar deserves better,” quickly became central to her campaign message.

Choudhary’s public persona is equally distinctive. She is known for wearing all-black attire and a mask, which she has vowed to remove only when her party wins an election. In an interview with NDTV, she explained, “I wear black because I don’t know why politicians wear white,” presenting her look as a statement against conventional politics and symbolism without substance.

Bihar elections and Future Ambitions

During the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the Plurals Party aimed to contest all 243 seats but managed to field around 148 candidates, none of whom won. Despite the setback, Choudhary has announced that her party will contest every seat in the 2025 election, reserving half of its tickets for women candidates, a move she says is essential for achieving genuine representation.

Now preparing for her second major electoral battle, Pushpam Priya Choudhary stands at the intersection of youth, education, and reformist zeal. Her challenge lies in transforming her symbolic rebellion into real political traction, testing whether a fresh, issue-driven movement can redefine the contours of Bihar’s deeply rooted political landscape.