Ara, June 9: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Sunday confirmed he will contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, declaring that his campaign would be rooted not just in Bihar but for Bihar and its people.
Addressing a large rally in Ara, Bhojpur district, Paswan invoked the legacy of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, and reiterated his commitment to the “Bihar First, Bihari First” vision. The event marked the formal launch of his party’s election campaign.
“I will contest the assembly polls in Bihar. I will contest not just in Bihar but for Bihar and its people,” said Paswan. “I am the son of Ram Vilas Paswan. I will realise his dreams and work towards changing Bihar.”
Paswan, who currently serves as the Minister for Food Processing Industries and represents Hajipur in the Lok Sabha, stopped short of announcing the specific constituency from which he would contest. “It is for the people of Bihar to decide from which seat I should contest,” he said.
Responding to speculation over his ambitions, Paswan clarified that his intent to contest the elections—potentially from an unreserved constituency—should not be seen as a bid for the chief minister’s post.
“Let me make one thing very clear. My contest will only ensure a better strike rate for my party, which would help the NDA,” he said, affirming that his goal was to bolster the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) prospects in the state. He also announced that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) would field candidates on all 243 assembly seats, aiming to maximize the NDA’s performance in the election. “My alliance is only with the people of Bihar,” he said.
In a veiled reference to his estranged uncle, Pashupati Nath Paras, Paswan recalled the internal rift that followed his father’s death. “People tried to break me. My own family members bared their fangs soon after my father passed away,” he said. “But I am the son of Ram Vilas Paswan—I cannot be broken.”
The LJP split in 2021 following a leadership tussle between Chirag and Paras. The Election Commission later allotted separate names and symbols to the two factions.
Paswan also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently described Bihar as the “crime capital” of India. “It was the Congress and RJD who were responsible for the jungle-raaj in the state before 2005,” Paswan said, defending the NDA’s track record. “The double-engine government under PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar has changed Bihar’s image. The state is witnessing overall development.”
With the assembly polls expected later this year, Paswan’s announcement positions him as a key player in the NDA’s electoral strategy, particularly as his party seeks to strengthen its footprint after a period of internal discord.
