OP Choudhary (born 2 June 1981, Age: 42 years old), whose full name is Om Prakash Choudhary, is a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and a current politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is known for his innovative and pro-people initiatives as a civil servant and his controversial entry into politics in 2023.
He has served as the district collector of Raipur, Dantewada, and Janjgir-Champa in Chhattisgarh and has been awarded several national and international recognitions for his work. He is also active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, where he shares his views and achievements with his followers.
Early Life and Education
Choudhary was born on 02 June 1981 in a small village called Bayang in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh. His grandfather had been a farmer for over 50 years and his father was a schoolteacher. He lost his father when he was just 8 years old and his mother is a homemaker.
He completed his entire school education till class 12 from various village government schools and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Kalyan College, Bhilai. He was one of the youngest to clear the IAS examinations in 2005 at the age of 24 and joined the Chhattisgarh cadre.
OP Choudhary Wiki/Bio
| Name | Om Prakash Choudhary |
| Nickname | OP Choudhary |
| Date of Birth | 02 June, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Bayang, Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, India |
| Residence | Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India |
| Education | Indian Administrative Services (IAS) Officer |
| Alma Mater | Kalyan College, Bhilai |
| Occupation | Civil Servant (2006-2023), Politician (2023-present) |
| Employer | Government of India (2006-2023), Bharatiya Janata Party (2023-present) |
| Organization | Indian Administrative Service (2006-2023) |
| Years Active | 2006 – present |
| Spouse | Dr. Aditi Patel |
| Children | Aarav (son), Aanya (daughter) |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste | Not Known |
| Age | 42 years (as of 2023) |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches |
| Weight | 75 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hobbies | Reading, Writing, Travelling, Playing Chess |
| Languages | Hindi, English, Chhattisgarhi |
| Social Media Links | Instagram: opchoudhary.india Facebook: OPChoudhary.India Twitter: OPChoudhary_Ind Youtube: @OPChoudhary Website: opchoudhary.com |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career as an IAS Officer
OP started his career as an IAS officer in 2006 and served in various key positions in Chhattisgarh for 13 years. He was known for his simple, hard-working and dynamic personality and his dedication to improving the lives of the people, especially the poor and the marginalized. Some of his notable achievements as an IAS officer are:
- As the assistant collector of Korba, he launched a campaign called ‘Nirmal Korba’ to make the district open defecation-free and also initiated several welfare schemes for the tribals and the coal miners.
- As the sub-divisional magistrate of Bemetara, he implemented a project called ‘Sarvodaya’ to provide free education, health care, and skill development to the rural youth and also set up a model village called ‘Sankalp Gram’.
- As the Zila Panchayat CEO of Janjgir-Champa and Surguja, he improved the delivery of public services and the implementation of various government schemes such as MGNREGA, PMAY, NRLM, etc. He also promoted organic farming, solar energy, and women empowerment in the districts.
- As the municipal commissioner of Raipur, he transformed the city into a smart and green city by developing several infrastructure and beautification projects such as Nalanda Parisar, Oxy Zone, Marine Drive, etc. He also introduced transparency and accountability in the administration and the civic amenities.
- As the district collector of Dantewada, he fought against the Naxal menace and brought development and peace to the region. He launched a flagship program called ‘Tamanna’ to provide quality education and career guidance to the tribal children and also set up a residential school called ‘Prayas’ for the Naxal-affected students.
- As the district collector of Janjgir-Champa, he focused on improving the agriculture and irrigation facilities and also initiated a campaign called ‘Chalo Gaon Ki Aur’ to connect with the villagers and address their grievances.
- As the district collector of Raipur, he continued his innovative and pro-people initiatives and also played a key role in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. He set up a dedicated COVID hospital, a plasma bank, a telemedicine center, and a mobile testing van. He also launched a helpline number, a mobile app, and a web portal to provide information and assistance to the citizens.
Awards and Recognition
OP Choudhary has received several awards and recognition for his outstanding work as an IAS officer. Some of them are:
- Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2011 for his work in Bemetara.
- United Nations Public Service Award in 2012 for his work in Janjgir-Champa.
- National Award for e-Governance in 2014 for his work in Raipur.
- Skoch Award for Smart Governance in 2015 for his work in Raipur.
- NDTV Indian of the Year in 2016 for his work in Dantewada.
- Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Award in 2016 for his work in Dantewada.
- CNN-IBN Indian of the Year in 2017 for his work in Dantewada.
- Outlook Speakout Award for Public Service in 2018 for his work in Raipur.
Physical Appearance
OP Choudhary is a former IAS officer and a current politician who has a height of 5 feet 9 inches and a weight of 75 kg. He has black hair and black eyes and a simple and sober appearance. He is not known for his extravagant lifestyle or fashion sense, but rather for his work and achievements in the public service and the public life of Chhattisgarh.
Net worth & Income Sources
Choudhary’s net worth and income sources are not publicly disclosed, but it can be assumed that he has a decent amount of wealth and assets, considering his long and successful career as an IAS officer and politician. He has served in various key positions in the state government and has been awarded several national and international recognitions for his work. He has also joined the BJP, which is one of the richest political parties in India, and has contested the assembly elections from the Kharsia constituency in 2023.
He may also have some income from his social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, where he has a large fan following and shares his views and achievements with his followers. However, he may also have some expenses and liabilities, such as taxes, loans, donations, etc. Therefore, his exact net worth and income sources are not clear and may vary depending on various factors.
Entry into Politics
OP quit the IAS service in August 2023 and joined the BJP in September 2023. He was inducted into the party at the behest of former chief minister Raman Singh and was even tipped to be a minister if the BJP had won the assembly elections in November 2023. However, his entry into politics was met with criticism and controversy from various quarters. Some of the reasons are:
- He was accused of violating the service rules and the code of conduct by expressing his political views and affiliations on social media while being an IAS officer.
- He was alleged to have misused his official position and resources to promote the BJP and its leaders during his tenure as the district collector of Raipur.
- He was questioned for his sudden change of ideology and loyalty from being a neutral and impartial civil servant to being a partisan and biased politician.
- He was challenged for his lack of experience and understanding of the political dynamics and the ground realities of the state.
- He was rejected by the voters of the Kharsia constituency, where he contested the assembly elections on a BJP ticket and lost to the Congress candidate by a margin of over 20,000 votes.
How OP Choudhary, a former IAS officer, became BJP’s star candidate in Chhattisgarh
Om Prakash Choudhary, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2018, has won the Raigarh assembly seat in Chhattisgarh by a massive margin of 64,000 votes. He defeated his nearest rival, Congress candidate and former minister Rameshwar Oraon, in the 2023 assembly elections.
Choudhary, who is popularly known as OP, is considered one of the most efficient and dynamic bureaucrats in the state. He has served as the district collector of Dantewada, Janjgir-Champa, and Raipur, and has initiated several innovative and pro-people projects in these districts. He has also been praised for his efforts to improve the education and health sectors and to combat Naxalism with development.
Personal Life and Family
OP Choudhary is married to Dr. Aditi Patel, who is a dentist by profession and runs a dental clinic in Raipur. They have a son named Aarav and a daughter named Aanya. He belongs to a Hindu family and follows the Hindu religion. He is 42 years old as of 2023 and his date of birth is 02 June, 1981.
His height is 5 feet 9 inches and his weight is 75 kg. He has black hair and black eyes. He likes reading, writing, traveling, and playing chess. He is fluent in Hindi, English, and Chhattisgarhi languages.
OP Choudhary is a former IAS officer and a current politician who has made a mark in the public service and the public life of Chhattisgarh. He is known for his innovative and pro-people initiatives as a civil servant and his controversial entry into politics as a BJP leader. He has been awarded several national and international recognitions for his work and has also faced criticism and controversy for his actions. He is active on social media platforms and has a large fan following. He is married to Dr. Aditi Patel and has two children. He is 42 years old and lives in Raipur.
