Chirag Paswan, the 43-year-old leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) faction, has emerged as a significant force in Bihar politics following the recent Assembly elections. His party secured a strong performance, nearly matching the historic 29-seat victory achieved by the united LJP in February 2005 under his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. This success comes after years of political struggles, including a bitter family feud over his father's legacy, forced eviction from the official residence, and a party split that saw the Election Commission freeze the original party name and symbol. Despite initial setbacks and the BJP's early support for his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, Chirag rebuilt his political standing by declaring unwavering loyalty to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His strategy of positioning himself as a young, development-focused leader has paid off. The NDA's decision to allocate 29 seats to his faction raised questions initially, but the electoral outcome vindicated the alliance's faith in him, establishing Chirag as a rising star in Bihar's political landscape.
Overcoming Family Disputes and Political Isolation
Chirag Paswan faced numerous obstacles after his father's death five years ago. A painful moment was his forceful eviction from Ram Vilas Paswan's official residence, which he wanted to preserve as a memorial. He encountered resistance from two uncles competing for the party's control. The BJP initially supported his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, even making him a Union minister. During the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Chirag was excluded from the NDA alliance at JD(U)'s insistence, though speculation persists that the BJP tacitly supported him to weaken Nitish Kumar's party. Following the party split, the Election Commission froze the original LJP name and symbol, forcing Chirag to adopt the LJP (Ram Vilas) label. Meanwhile, the Paras-led Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party struggled, barely reaching one percent vote share in recent polls.
Strategic Loyalty to BJP and Vision for Bihar's Future
Chirag carefully cultivated his relationship with the BJP, declaring himself Modi's 'Hanuman' while maintaining independence on select issues, particularly minority concerns. The BJP recognized him as Ram Vilas Paswan's legitimate heir by appointing him Union Minister after the 2024 general elections. However, Chirag repeatedly expressed his desire to return to state politics, openly stating his interest in the chief minister's post. He told media he joined politics solely for Bihar, abandoning a promising Bollywood career. During the campaign, he addressed 173 rallies, the highest among all leaders, and promoted his 'MY' formula—focusing on women (Mahila) and youth—contrasting with RJD's Muslim-Yadav combination. BJP leaders praised his negotiation skills and charisma, viewing him as a cross-caste leader who could appeal to Bihar's aspirational population.
Source: Link