Those who had predicted that Chirag Paswan would contest from a reserved seat were proven wrong when it was announced that he would enter the Bihar Assembly elections from a general seat. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has officially decided that Chirag Paswan will contest from an unreserved constituency — a significant political move, marking his first foray into state assembly politics. A resolution confirming this was passed at a party meeting, and now Chirag is poised to establish his own political turf — ready, like Hanuman, for a trial by fire.
What prompted this bold decision? A significant undercurrent of pressure seems to be at play. The recent meeting between former LJP MP Pashupati Kumar Paras and Prince Raj Paswan with Union Home Minister Amit Shah has undoubtedly raised the political temperature for Chirag. During the last session of Parliament, Chirag made several statements that seemed at odds with the BJP’s stance — on issues such as the creamy layer in reservations, lateral appointments, and the Waqf Board Amendment Act, 2024. His assertive tone unexpectedly invigorated the INDIA bloc, sparking speculation about a potential political shift in Bihar.
In response, the BJP appeared to send a subtle message — neither Pashupati Paras nor Prince Raj is off-limits. The saffron party held individual meetings with several LJP MPs, leaving Chirag visibly unsettled. Even MPs close to the Paswan family were forced to issue clarifications. Meanwhile, RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan claimed that the BJP was in touch with three of Chirag’s MPs. It seemed like an orchestrated pressure tactic by the BJP — an indirect attempt to rein in Chirag and remind him of the options available to them.
According to Sangh sources, the BJP prefers the LJP to remain united under a single umbrella. They believe that splitting the Paswan vote through multiple factions could weaken its effectiveness. Yet, the BJP has always been adept at quiet, incremental consolidation. In the Lok Sabha elections, Pashupati Paras was appeased with promises, while Upendra Kushwaha was accommodated in the Rajya Sabha. Now, Paras has his hopes pinned on the 2025 assembly elections — but he also knows that neither the BJP nor JDU is likely to sacrifice seats to accommodate him separately.
In the upcoming NDA seat — sharing arrangement, both Chirag and Paras will have to find a way to coexist within the limited number of seats allocated to LJP. If they fail to reconcile, it could deepen the rift and weaken the alliance. A splintered LJP — with Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (Paras faction) potentially fielding candidates against Chirag — might end up damaging the NDA by splitting the Paswan vote. There’s also a looming risk that the Paras faction could drift toward the INDIA bloc.
This possibility gains traction considering that Chirag Paswan faces opposition from within his extended family. RJD leader and Ram Vilas Paswan’s son-in-law, Anil Kumar Sadhu, often targets Chirag publicly. In the Congress camp, Sunny Paswan — son of Nitish Kumar’s minister Maheshwar Hazari — is also gearing up to challenge Chirag. Former Samastipur MP Prince Raj Paswan, too, could emerge as a contender.
Despite these tensions, Pashupati Paras has indicated that he’s open to reconciliation. In media statements, he has hinted that the relationship with his nephew can be mended, famously saying, “Blood is blood.” Paras has even expressed this wish to the NDA leadership. But Chirag has remained firm. In interviews, he has reminded everyone how Paras had once broken away with MPs from Ram Vilas Paswan’s original party and evicted him from the party office founded by his father. At that time, Chirag remarked, Paras saw neither his nephew nor his own brother’s son.
This political and personal tug-of-war is emblematic of a deeper struggle within Bihar’s NDA ranks. Some believe the BJP is engaged in damage control, attempting to keep both factions of the LJP under a manageable umbrella. During the Lok Sabha elections, it was Pashupati Paras who bore the brunt of this internal cold war — losing both his ministerial berth and MPs. When he asked for a ticket for his ally Sunil Pandey in the Tarari bypoll, BJP denied the request.
Still, during his recent meeting with Amit Shah, Paras reiterated his party’s commitment to supporting the NDA in the 2025 assembly elections. Yet, his political future remains uncertain, caught between fading influence and limited bargaining power.
Historically, LJP’s performance in state elections has been inconsistent. In 2015, when it was part of the NDA, it contested 42 seats and won only two. In 2020, when Chirag went solo, the party contested 143 seats but won just one. The 2025 assembly elections will be the first time LJP contests as part of a broader NDA coalition that includes BJP, JDU, HAM, and RLM. BJP and JDU are expected to contest an equal number of seats — perhaps 100 each — leaving limited space for allies like LJP.
Currently, a political “Laxman Rekha” has been drawn: Chirag Paswan’s brother-in-law has been appointed Chairman of the SC Commission, and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son-in-law as Vice-Chairman-indicating NDA’s effort to balance caste dynamics and internal ambitions. But the road to 2025 remains rocky, with family rivalries, alliance tensions, and a changing electoral map all in play.
(The writer is a senior journalist. Views are personal)
