Chirag Paswan should contest Bihar Assembly election, says LJP (Ram Vilas) MP

LJP MP said that a huge crowd of youth that gathers for Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s meetings in Bihar shows that he still has responsibilities in the State. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on Saturday (April 19, 2025) hinted that party president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan may leave his position in the Central government to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly election.

During a recent interview with a news channel, Mr. Paswan himself said that he wants to focus more on Bihar and does not want to spend much time at the Centre for too long.

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Speaking to The Hindu, the party’s MP Arun Bharti also said that it is the right time to enter Bihar politics by contesting the Assembly election since Mr. Paswan has always focused on a ‘Bihar First Bihari First’ campaign.

‘First priority is Bihar’

“The foundation of my politics is based on ‘Bihar First, Bihari First’. My State is calling me. My father Ram Vilas Paswan was more active in Central politics, but my first priority is Bihar. I cannot stay in the Centre for long,” Mr. Paswan had said.

He had added that the huge crowd of youth that gathers for his meetings in Bihar shows that he still has responsibilities in the State, adding that party workers also want him to spend more time in the State and become more active in Bihar politics.

Asked about the broader meaning of Mr. Paswan’s statement, Mr. Bharti told The Hindu, “What I see as a political worker is that 15 to 18 years back, there was a time when three leaders of Bihar used to decide the direction and situation of the country’s politics. At present, there is a paradigm shift in Bihar and people have to decide who will be the leader in Bihar.”

‘Big role in Bihar politics’

The Jamui MP added: “The way Chirag Paswan ji is working to develop Bihar since 2019 with the campaign ‘Bihar Firs Bihari First’ and bringing investment of ₹2,000 crore through his department, or formation of Makhana Board in Bihar proves that he has effectively implemented his vision.”

The upcoming Assembly election will not only elect the State’s government, but will also decide the State’s direction for the next 25 years, said Mr. Bharti, who is also Mr. Paswan’s brother-in-law.

“The party workers and I even want him to get a bigger responsibility in Bihar but we are part of the coalition government and we want to respect it. As a party worker, I want Chirag Paswan ji to contest Assembly elections in days to come so that he can have a big role in Bihar politics,” Mr. Bharti said.

‘Young leader with clear vision’

He asserted that Bihar needs a young leader with a clear vision and full of energy. Mr. Bharti pointed out that Mr. Paswan was not shaken even when the LJP was split, proving he has the quality to face tough times, adding that he has now emerged as one of the biggest leaders in Bihar.

Mr. Paswan, who is viewed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Hanuman’ figure, had played the role of a spoiler for the National Democratic Alliance in the 2020 Assembly election, by fielding candidates against the Janata Dal (United). There were at least 27 seats where the margin by which the JD(U) candidate lost to the Opposition alliance was the same as the number of votes polled in favour of the undivided LJP.