New Delhi: This year’s Bihar assembly election is shaping up to be a defining chapter not only for the sweeping performance of the National Democratic Alliance but also for the rise of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan. After negotiating assertively for 29 seats within the alliance, the young MP appears to have validated his strategy, leading in 21 constituencies and achieving a striking 72 percent success rate.
The results mark a dramatic turnaround for a party that had been considered on the decline after the 2020 assembly polls, when the then-united LJP contested alone and won only one seat despite securing a notable vote share. Political observers at the time questioned whether Chirag could uphold the influential legacy of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, long regarded as a towering figure in Bihar’s political landscape. The internal split in 2021, led by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, further deepened the uncertainty.
Chirag’s rebuilding phase began with a deliberate push to project himself as a youth-centric leader while remaining firmly rooted in the party’s Dalit support base. The strategy paid dividends in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when the LJP(RV) captured all five seats it contested, boosting its credibility within the NDA. Even then, key alliance partners were initially hesitant to allocate him a larger share of assembly seats, prompting behind-the-scenes discussions with emerging political outfits before the final agreement was reached.
The party’s current showing surpasses its earlier best in 2005, when it won 29 seats while contesting on a far larger scale. This year’s more focused and disciplined performance is expected to significantly strengthen Chirag’s political standing.
Looking ahead, Chirag has signalled interest in greater responsibilities but maintains that his immediate focus is on consolidating gains and preparing for upcoming electoral battles in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab in 2027. He has repeatedly reaffirmed his loyalty to the Prime Minister, calling the NDA’s result a mandate for development and stability. Party leaders say the priority now is to deliver on promises and build on the momentum that has placed Chirag Paswan firmly among Bihar’s rising political heavyweights.
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