Chirag Paswan’s notable performance in the Bihar elections signifies a pivotal moment in his political career, embodying a sense of poetic justice after years dedicated to preserving the legacy of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. Once marginalized and dealing with a division within the Lok Janshakti Party, Chirag has revitalized his faction, LJP (Ram Vilas), achieving one of its best-ever results. Despite initial doubts regarding the NDA’s decision to allocate him 29 seats, Chirag validated the BJP’s confidence in him by delivering a robust performance.
This brings him close to matching the LJP’s 2005 peak of 29 seats — a benchmark many believed would be unattainable for him following internal conflicts and public challenges, including his removal from his father’s previous residence. Although the BJP previously supported his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, Chirag remained undeterred. The electoral division resulted in the Election Commission freezing the old party symbol and name, compelling both factions to redefine their identities. While the Paras faction struggled to maintain political relevance, Chirag reaffirmed his loyalty to the BJP while independently addressing issues concerning minorities and development. Acknowledged by the BJP as the rightful heir to Ram Vilas Paswan’s legacy, he was appointed as a Union Minister last year.
Nevertheless, throughout the Bihar campaign, Chirag emphasized his commitment to state politics and expressed his willingness to assume the chief minister’s position. In interviews, he articulated his return to politics as a mission for ‘Bihar and Biharis’, outlining his vision for enhanced employment, revenue growth, education, and healthcare. His energetic campaigning — encompassing 173 public meetings, the highest by any NDA leader — solidified his popularity. He now ranks among the alliance’s top five star campaigners, alongside Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath, and Nitish Kumar.
BJP leaders commended Chirag’s keen political acumen and his capacity to garner support across various communities, particularly among women and youth — a blend he termed his own ‘MY’ formula, in contrast to the RJD’s conventional Muslim-Yadav base. This ascent presents a new challenge to Tejashwi Yadav, who has heavily relied on his own youth appeal and development platform. Chirag’s increasing prominence also countered opposition claims that the NDA lacked a strong leader amid Nitish Kumar’s health issues. His involvement fortified an alliance often criticized for internal discord. Dismissing claims that he acted as a BJP proxy in 2020 to undermine the JD(U), Chirag asserted that such narratives were propagated by political adversaries unable to compete with a united NDA.
As the election results emerged, the 43-year-old leader had ample reason to celebrate — firmly establishing himself as Bihar’s latest political powerhouse and a key player in its future leadership.
