NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] President Chirag Paswan is expected to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled to take place later this year. Sources within the party have indicated to The Sunday Guardian that he is eager to increase his engagement in state-level politics, shifting focus from central governance. He is reportedly aiming for the Deputy Chief Minister position in the forthcoming elections, despite already holding a Cabinet berth in the BJP-led Modi government. According to reports, there was a strong demand for Chirag to contest the Assembly elections, which was prominently raised during a youth wing meeting of the LJP(RV) in Patna, attended by senior party leaders. A resolution was passed in the meeting urging the party president to step into the Assembly race. Ved Prakash Pandey, the state president of the youth wing, shared a related post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. “There is overwhelming support among party workers and senior leaders for Chirag Paswan to contest the upcoming Assembly elections. Multiple suggestions and offers have come in from various regions, including South, Central, and North Bihar, regarding suitable constituencies for our president. Everyone in the party would be thrilled to see him enter the race,” stated Ashraf Ansari, the party’s state vice president and spokesperson. Party insiders also revealed that Chirag and his close circle have begun to work seriously on this plan, identifying potential constituencies to contest. Among the shortlisted constituencies are several reserved seats, such as Kalyanpur and Alauli in the Samastipur region. It is noteworthy that Chirag’s late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, began his political journey from Alauli in Khagaria district, which the family belongs to. As a result, the 42-year-old Union Minister may likely opt for one of these seats. According to sources, Chirag’s strategic move to contest the Assembly polls is intended to boost the LJP(RV)’s political presence in Bihar and align with his broader ambition of becoming the Deputy Chief Minister. He has been actively voicing concerns about Bihar’s development and has consistently promoted his long-term vision of “Bihar First, Bihari First” as a roadmap to propel the state’s progress. In a recent media interaction, Chirag expressed a strong desire to become more involved in Bihar’s state affairs and contribute directly to its growth. Presently, Paswan serves as a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, representing the Hajipur (SC) constituency. The LJP(RV) remains a crucial component of the BJP-led NDA government. For the forthcoming Bihar elections, the LJP(RV) plans to stake claim to 35–40 Assembly seats—a figure that could create tensions within the NDA, as smaller allies like Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Manch may also push for a larger share of seats. The BJP, while inclined to offer the LJP(RV) around 25 seats, is facing pressure from allies seeking at least 30 seats—equivalent to the six Assembly seats per parliamentary constituency they secured during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It is important to mention that out of Bihar’s 243 Assembly constituencies, 38 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and two for Scheduled Tribes. Political observer Aditya Rathi, who has closely tracked developments in Bihar politics, told The Sunday Guardian that the push for Chirag’s candidacy is a calculated effort by the LJP(RV) to assert greater influence and negotiate a more favourable seat-sharing arrangement within the NDA. He added that Chirag likely sees an opening to position himself as the deputy chief ministerial face of the NDA, especially as the alliance has already declared that Nitish Kumar will lead as the chief ministerial candidate for the 2025 elections.
