Amid Bihar CM Face Buzz, Chirag Paswan Drops BIG Hint At Future Role In Modi Government
Bihar Election 2025: Amid posters surfacing in Bihar portraying Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan as the future Chief Minister of the state, the political atmosphere is getting charged up ahead of the assembly polls. Paswan, a Lok Sabha MP and Union Minister in the Narendra Modi government, has been looking to make it BIG in this year's election, having tried his luck in the 2020 polls. Speaking to reporters, Paswan said that his reason for entering politics was Bihar and not a Central government role.
"I don't see myself in central politics for too long. My reason for entering politics was Bihar and the people of Bihar. I want to take forward my vision of 'Bihar First, Bihari First'," said Paswan.
Paswan said he has realized that being in Delhi makes it difficult to work directly for Bihar. "I have placed my thoughts before the party, and it will evaluate whether my contesting the Assembly elections would benefit the organisation,' he added.
Since Chirag Paswan is the leader of the party, the LJP(RV) is likely to go with his wish and field him in the assembly constituency. Paswan emphasised that his decision to consider the state elections is driven by a desire to bring development and stronger representation to Bihar.
'Sometimes, when national leaders contest state elections, it does help the party grow. If my participation helps the alliance and strengthens the NDA's position in Bihar, I will contest,' he stated.
However, Chirag Paswan made it clear that he is not eyeing the Chief Minister's post. 'There is no vacancy for the Chief Minister's post in Bihar. Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister,' he affirmed, reiterating NDA unity in the state.
Paswan has never contested an Assembly election before, but his growing involvement in state matters has sparked speculation about a shift from national to state politics.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is part of the NDA in Bihar, which also includes parties led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
5 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
BJD questions BJP's ‘double-engine' governance as Odisha's central grants dip
Odisha's inability to fully utilise the 2024-25 central funds has led to a 18.19% reduction in federal grants a year after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in Odisha on the back of its electoral promise to accelerate development through 'double engine' governments in the state at the Centre. Officials aware of the matter said the central grants to Odisha rose by 15.48% under the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23, thanks to effective lobbying and better expenditure planning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah led the BJP's 2024 poll campaign in Odisha, focused on the potential benefits of the 'double engine' government, helping the party win 85 of the 147 seats in the state assembly and 20 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats. Officials cited above said funds for centrally sponsored schemes are released in instalments, with subsequent tranches contingent on spending previous allocations. 'Odisha's inability to fully utilise these funds led to reduced disbursements. If the state cannot demonstrate effective spending, the Union government holds back further release of funds,' said an official, who did not want to be named. Officials said effective lobbying with the Union government could have secured higher allocations. 'In 2023-24, the central grants to Odisha rose by 15.48% compared to 2022-23. It shows effective lobbying and better expenditure planning,' said the official. Funding under centrally sponsored schemes has, since 2015-16, accounted for over 20% of total federal grants for sectors such as education, health, employment, and the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. States with lower implementation capacity, such as Odisha, face challenges in executing these schemes effectively. Officials said the requirement to prepare district and state agricultural plans for schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, an incentive-based programme where allocations are not automatic but tied to planning, has compounded the problem. The central grants to Odisha declined from ₹21,500 crore in 2023-24 to ₹17,000 crore under housing, irrigation, and water supply schemes, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayi Yojana, and Jal Jeevan Mission. The funding under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Rural went down from ₹4,310 crore in 2023-24 to ₹825 crore in 2024-25. The allocation under PMAY-Urban funding declined from ₹296 crore in 2023-24 to ₹0.73 crore in 2024-25. The funding under the rural connectivity scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, dropped from ₹1,262 crore in 2023-24 to ₹712 crore in 2024-25, from ₹146 crore to ₹32 crore under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayi Yojana, and from ₹1,581 crore to ₹368 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Odisha did not get anything in 2024-25 under the agricultural development scheme, Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana, which provides 60% central funding. In 2023-24, it received ₹223 crore under the scheme. A review of the spending in February this year found that at least 16 of 44 departments failed to spend even half their allocated funds by January end. Departments such as disaster management (13.5%), sports and youth services (19.77%), steel and mines (20.5%), mission shakti (23%), Odia language, literature and culture (27%), tourism (38%), energy (46%), transport (47%) failed to spend 50% of their budgets by January-end. Odisha finance secretary Saswat Mishra, whose department deals with the central allocations, did not reply to a questionnaire. Opposition BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said the reduction in funding showed the chief minister Mohan Majhi-led government's inability to govern. 'In the last year, the government has done nothing except rename schemes introduced during the previous Naveen Patnaik government and change the colours of buildings,' said Mishra. He asked if the BJD could get more funds under the centrally-sponsored schemes, and why the Majhi government was unable to do so. 'This shows the double-engine government was just an election hype.' BJP lawmaker Akash Dasnayak called the dip in the funding an aberration and said Modi wants to see Odisha developed and is ready to help with more funds. He said funding for a scheme like the PMAY may have come down due to the ongoing survey of beneficiaries. 'Once the survey is complete, we will get more funding.'
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
India delivers solar power 24/7 at a cost lower than coal: Pralhad
New Delhi: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday highlighted that solar+storage in India is now cheaper than industrial electricity tariffs in most states, as these prices have been fixed for decades, citing a new study. 'This breakthrough is a game-changer for India's industrial competitiveness. It also stands as a testament to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for achieving sustainable growth,' the minister said in a statement on X. India can now deliver round-the-clock electricity at under Rs 6/kWh, cheaper than coal-fired plants and insulated from inflation for 25 years, according to a study by the India Energy and Climate Center (IECC) at the University of California, Berkeley. The study titled 'Plummeting Solar+Storage Auction Prices in India Unlock Affordable, Inflation-Proof 24/7 Clean Power', states that battery storage costs in India have fallen by more than 50 per cent in the last 18 months. As a result, the combined cost of solar with storage is now lower than power from new coal-fired plants. Solar+storage in India is now cheaper than industrial electricity tariffs in most states -- and these prices would be locked in for decades,' said Dr Nikit Abhyankar, author of the study and faculty member at the University of California. India's competitive edge stems from low capital costs for solar installations -- nearly one-third of those in the US -- along with declining battery prices that now match those in China. 'With battery pack prices now under $60/kWh and total system costs rivalling those in China, India is replicating its solar success in storage,' said Dr Amol Phadke, co-author of the study. The report also points out that India's industrial electricity tariffs have averaged nearly Rs 8/kWh in 2025, with costs expected to rise. In contrast, solar+storage systems provide fixed-rate electricity for 25 years, offering predictable and lower-cost clean power to industry. Even with added transmission charges, the systems remain cost-effective for industrial users. India's solar energy capacity has taken a massive leap in the last 11 years from a mere 2.82 GW in 2014 to an impressive 105.65 GW as of March 31 this year, according to official figures.
New Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Stop harassing Dakshina Kannada Hindu activists, urges Union MoS Shobha
BENGALURU: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje has urged Justice NK Sudhindra Rao, chairman, Police Complaints Authority, to initiate immediate action to prevent police harassment of members associated with Hindu organisations in Dakshina Kannada. In a letter to Justice Rao, Karandlaje expressed concern over the developments in Dakshina Kannada, where it has been reported that the police under the alleged pressure from the ruling Congress have been systematically targeting and harassing individuals associated with Hindu organisations. Even social workers, traders and ordinary citizens are not spared, she alleged.
