Patna, June 4, 2025 In a significant political statement, Arun Bharti, Bihar in-charge of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and a Member of Parliament from Jamui, emphasized the need for “yuva shakti” (youth power) to continue the development journey initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Speaking to media at Patna airport, Bharti praised Nitish Kumar for bringing Bihar out of the political instability it experienced during the Lalu Prasad Yadav era. He said that after Nitish took over in 2005, governance improved, and long-pending projects finally saw progress. However, Bharti believes that Bihar now needs energetic youth leadership to further the visions of Modi and Nitish.
“Bihar mein ek mazboot yuva shakti ki zaroorat hai jo Modi ji aur Nitish ji ke sapno ko pura kar sake,” said Bharti.
Chirag Paswan’s Role in Focus
His comments came a day after Union Minister Chirag Paswan clarified that he is not aiming for the Chief Minister’s post in Bihar. Bharti, who is also Paswan’s brother-in-law, insisted that Chirag’s aim is not to claim power but to contribute to Bihar’s growth.
“Some people misunderstood Chirag’s mention of a bigger role in Bihar as an attempt to become CM. But that’s not the case,” Bharti explained.
He further called Chirag the “aspiration of Bihar’s people” and emphasized that being the son of Bihar, Chirag must now play a more active role in state politics. According to Bharti, Chirag symbolizes a new kind of leadership that resonates with all communities in Bihar.
Shift from Reserved to General Seat?
Arun Bharti also suggested that Chirag should consider contesting from a general category seat in the next election instead of a reserved one. This, he said, would show that “Chirag sabke hain” — meaning Chirag belongs to all, not just a particular group or community.
However, he did not disclose which general seat the party is considering for Chirag, stating that the decision depends on ongoing discussions within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regarding seat-sharing for the next election.
Political Analysts Weigh In
Political observers believe that Chirag Paswan is sensing a good opportunity to strengthen his base in Bihar. With no strong local BJP face to lead the party and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav emerging as the main opposition figure, Chirag could fill the leadership vacuum within the NDA camp in the state.
One analyst commented,
“Chirag has become more active in Bihar politics recently. He knows that with the BJP lacking a charismatic local leader, there’s space for him to grow.”
BJP’s Dilemma and Chirag’s Rise
The BJP, despite its strong central leadership, has been struggling to project a popular state leader in Bihar. This has created a leadership gap within the alliance. Chirag, who started his political journey in 2014 by winning the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, has never contested in a state assembly election. Still, his popularity among youth and his aggressive campaigning style have made him a figure to watch.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar, though still a respected figure, is aging and may be looking toward a successor. Chirag, with his youthful image and increasing visibility, could be the NDA’s answer to RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav.
