Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has sparked political buzz in Bihar ahead of the October-November 2025 Assembly elections by emphasizing his commitment to a “Bihar first, Bihari first” approach. In a recent interview, the 42-year-old three-term MP declared, “My focus is on Bihar first. My state is calling me.”
Speaking at the Express Adda on April 8, Chirag reiterated this stance, highlighting his focus on the state’s 14 crore Biharis and his “Mahila and Yuva” (MY) formula, noting that two of his five MPs are women. He contrasted his ambitions with those of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, a prominent Dalit leader and former Union minister, saying, “My father was focused on national politics, but I see myself in state politics.” However, he refrained from specifying a timeline for contesting the Assembly elections.
As a key ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) in Bihar, Chirag’s remarks come amid intensifying seat-sharing discussions among NDA partners. Smaller allies, like the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, have already demanded 40 of the state’s 243 Assembly seats, despite having only one Lok Sabha MP.
An LJP(RV) leader told The Indian Express that the party feels entitled to a larger share of seats, citing their 100% strike rate in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where they won all five allocated seats. “The NDA won 30 of Bihar’s 40 Lok Sabha seats. Dividing 243 Assembly seats by 30 yields roughly eight Assembly seats per Lok Sabha seat, so we should get around 40 seats,” the leader argued, referencing a perceived shortfall in their 2024 Lok Sabha allocation.
Another LJP(RV) leader clarified that Chirag’s “Bihar first” rhetoric is a strategic move to secure a “respectable share” of Assembly seats, though Chirag himself is unlikely to contest in 2025. “He may be eyeing the 2030 Assembly polls,” the leader added.
Chirag’s political journey has been turbulent. After his father’s death in 2021, the LJP split, leading to a setback. However, in 2024, LJP(RV) staged a comeback, winning all five Lok Sabha seats it contested, while NDA giants BJP and JD(U) secured 12 each out of 17 and 16 seats, respectively. The opposition RJD-led Mahagathbandhan won nine seats.
In the 2020 Assembly polls, Chirag’s LJP exited the NDA and contested 135 seats independently, targeting JD(U) in 115 constituencies. Though LJP won only one seat, it secured 5.66% of the vote share, outpacing smaller parties like the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (1.77%) and HAM-S (0.89%). This move significantly weakened JD(U), which dropped from 71 seats in 2015 to 43 in 2020, while the BJP won 74 seats. JD(U) later alleged BJP’s tacit support for Chirag’s strategy.
BJP and JD(U) leaders view Chirag’s recent statements as a bargaining tactic for more seats. A BJP leader remarked, “With only 5.66% vote share in 2020, Chirag played a spoiler. As a Union Minister now, he’s unlikely to risk his position.” Bihar Deputy CM and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha, without naming Chirag, told reporters in Patna, “No actor will become Bihar CM. Only a grounded politician deserves the role,” alluding to Chirag’s brief stint as a film actor.
A JD(U) leader acknowledged Chirag’s 2020 impact but expressed optimism about his current alignment with the NDA. “This time, we expect strong vote transfer. Chirag may play a bigger role in 2030, as political alignments could shift significantly by then,” the leader said.
