IAS OP Choudhary is an Indian politician and the current Finance Minister of Chhattisgarh. He is also a member of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly from Raigarh constituency (2023). He was a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who resigned from the service in 2018 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is known for his award-winning initiatives in the field of education and development.

Early Life and Education

IAS OP Choudhary was born on 2 June 1981 in Bayang village in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh. His father was a school teacher who passed away when Choudhary was 8 years old. He completed his schooling from various government schools in his village. He obtained a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics, Physics and Electronics from Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur. He cleared the UPSC exam in 2005 and joined the IAS at the age of 22, becoming one of the youngest officers in the country. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Computer Application, a diploma course in English, and a master’s degree in Computer Applications from Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Bhopal.

IAS Career

IAS OP Choudhary started his IAS career as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Durg district of Chhattisgarh. He later served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zilla Panchayat in Janjgir and Surguja districts. He was also posted as the Municipal Commissioner of Raipur, the state capital, and the Director of Public Relations. He served as the District Collector of Dantewada, Janjgir and Raipur districts, until he resigned from the IAS in August 2018.

IAS OP Choudhary was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for his educational initiatives in Dantewada district by the Government of India in 2011-12. He launched several innovative projects such as ‘Nanhe Parindey’ (Little Birds), ‘Tamanna’ (Desire), ‘Choo Lo Aasman’ (Touch the Sky), and ‘Prayas’ (Effort) to provide quality education, skill development, and career guidance to the children of the Naxal-affected district. He also implemented various schemes for the welfare of the tribal population, women empowerment, health care, and infrastructure development.

Political Career

IAS OP Choudhary resigned as the Collector of Raipur and joined the BJP in 2018, in the presence of former Chief Minister Raman Singh. He contested the 2018 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election from Kharsia constituency, but lost to Umesh Nandkumar Patel of the Indian National Congress. He was also appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP in Chhattisgarh.

In 2023, IAS OP Choudhary became a Member of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly from Raigarh constituency, defeating Prakash Shakrajit Naik of the Congress by a margin of 64,443 votes. He was sworn in as the Finance Minister of Chhattisgarh on 29 December 2023, along with 11 other ministers, in the cabinet of Vishnu Deo Sai, who became the Chief Minister after the BJP won the majority in the assembly. Choudhary also holds the portfolios of Commercial Tax, Housing and Environment, Planning, Economics and Statistics in the government of Chhattisgarh.

Controversies

OP Choudhary has faced some controversies in his political career. In 2018, he was accused of violating the model code of conduct during the assembly election by using loudspeakers without permission, distributing money and liquor to the voters, and threatening the election officials. He was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. He was also alleged to have misused his official position as the Collector of Raipur to favour the BJP.

Personal Life

IAS OP Choudhary is married to Dr. Aditi Patel, who is a gynaecologist. They have a son, Aarav Chaudhary, who is studying in school. IAS OP Choudhary follows Hinduism and is a devotee of Lord Shiva. He lives in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, with his family.

Net Worth and Assets

According to his affidavit filed in 2023, IAS OP Choudhary has a net worth of Rs. 3.65 crore, which includes movable assets worth Rs. 1.65 crore and immovable assets worth Rs. 2 crore. His movable assets include cash, bank deposits, jewellery, vehicles, insurance policies, and shares. His immovable assets include agricultural land, residential buildings, and commercial shops.

Facts and Trivia

IAS OP Choudhary is fond of reading books, especially on history and politics. He also likes to watch movies and listen to music in his spare time.
IAS OP Choudhary is active on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. He has more than 1 lakh followers on Twitter and more than 2 lakh followers on Facebook. He uses these platforms to interact with his supporters and share his views on various issues.
IAS OP Choudhary is considered as one of the rising stars of the BJP in Chhattisgarh. He is known for his organizational skills, grassroots connect, and dynamic leadership. He is also seen as a close aide of the former Chief Minister and BJP leader Raman Singh, who is now the Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Assembly.