Chirag Paswan to Contest Bihar Polls in NDA Alliance
Chirag confirmed that the LJP(R) will contest all 243 assembly seats in partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) banner.
“Yes, I will contest the Bihar Assembly polls,” he said, urging workers to begin preparations at the booth level. Paswan currently serves as a Lok Sabha MP from Hajipur and is a Cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Attack on Mahagathbandhan: ‘Reservation at Risk’
Paswan took aim at the Mahagathbandhan alliance — comprising the RJD and Congress, now aligned with the INDIA bloc. He accused them of attempting to tamper with the Constitution and jeopardize caste-based reservations for the marginalized.
“They want to rewrite the Constitution to suit their ambitions. I promise every backward, Dalit, and EBC citizen that their rights will be protected,” Paswan asserted.
Opposition Reacts, Raises Doubts on NDA’s Unity
While Paswan reaffirmed NDA’s cohesion, senior leaders from the RJD and Congress questioned whether the BJP-led coalition can maintain internal balance. “This shows friction within NDA partners. Everyone wants to be the face,” a senior RJD spokesperson said.
Earlier, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami made a similar assertion, calling his party the “big brother” in the southern BJP alliance.
Reservation: A Central Campaign Theme
As caste-based census and EWS reservation debates gain momentum, the NDA is framing its Bihar campaign around protection of reservation policies. Paswan, considered a Dalit youth icon, could strengthen the NDA’s appeal among socially disadvantaged voters.
Bihar Assembly Polls: What’s Next?
With polls expected later this year, political equations in Bihar are shifting rapidly. Chirag Paswan’s decision marks a bold shift in LJP’s traditional strategy, signaling his ambitions to play a more assertive role in Bihar’s state politics.
Whether this move consolidates NDA’s position or causes fresh rifts remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Bihar’s upcoming elections will be one of the most closely watched in India’s political calendar.