Patna: Chirag Paswan’s political trajectory in Bihar has experienced a significant boost. Previously regarded as a minor disruptor after the 2020 assembly elections, the LJP (Ram Vilas) chief has now positioned himself at the heart of the NDA’s power structure, following an impressive showing in the 2025 polls. After achieving a perfect strike rate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chirag’s party is currently leading in 20 out of the 28 seats it contested, having already secured one seat, marking its best assembly performance since 2007. The party’s state president, Raju Tiwari, achieved a notable victory in Govindganj by a margin of 32,683 votes, highlighting the LJP’s expanding influence in areas where it previously faced challenges.
Political analysts emphasize that Chirag’s ascent is particularly noteworthy as he has consistently claimed that the LJP (Ram Vilas) significantly contributed to weakening the NDA in 2020—especially by siphoning votes from JDU. With the party now firmly integrated into the alliance, the electoral dynamics appear to have shifted favorably for it. “I was always confident about the NDA’s performance,” Chirag stated during celebrations in Patna. “The victory reflects the public’s trust in the double-engine government of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, as well as the opposition’s overconfidence.” Until now, the LJP had been absent from the Bihar assembly, a stark contrast to its recent emergence as the fourth-largest party after the BJP, JDU, and RJD.
This election also marked the inaugural collaboration between the LJP and JDU, resolving the tensions that characterized their 2020 conflict when Chirag ran candidates against Nitish Kumar’s party. For Chirag, this moment signifies a long-desired consolidation. “This is our best performance in an assembly election since 2007,” he remarked, noting the party’s consistent strong strike rates in national elections. While he continues to downplay any aspirations for the chief minister role, Chirag is dedicated to promoting the LJP’s ideological stance of “Bihar First, Bihari First.” As NDA allies prepare for talks on government formation, Chirag indicated that forthcoming days will be critical in determining the coalition’s framework.
“We will strive to advance the vision of Bihar First, Bihari First,” he asserted. “Important meetings regarding roles, responsibilities, and government formation are imminent.” Once considered an outsider within his own alliance, Chirag Paswan now emerges as one of its most pivotal figures—demonstrating that fortunes in Bihar’s evolving political arena can shift rapidly and significantly.