Latest news with #Bihari
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chirag Paswan: Ready to contest Bihar polls if it boosts LJP's strike rate
NEW DELHI: In what can further stir the already roiled Bihar political waters, Union minister Chirag Paswan has said that he was open to contesting the forthcoming assembly elections if that helps his party and improves its "strike rate". "BJP has tried this strategy many times by fielding MPs in state polls and have got its benefit. If my candidature strengthens my party's position and my strike rate increases - we had a 100% strike rate in the 2024 LS polls - I would like my strike rate to be good in the seats where my party and the alliance will be contesting," Paswan said in a video clip that he reposted on his X handle. The LJP neta said that he didn't see himself being confined to central politics for long, adding that his desire to improve conditions in Bihar and people there was the sole reason why he joined politics. "I have my vision of Bihar first, Bihari first. I want my state to stand at par with developed states. After becoming an MP for third time, I realised it may not be possible (to work for Bihar) by staying in Delhi," he added.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ready to contest Bihar assembly polls if it helps my party improve strike rate: Chirag Paswan
NEW DELHI: In what can further stir the already roiled Bihar political waters, LJP leader, Union minister Chirag Paswan, has said that he was open to contesting the forthcoming assembly polls if that helps his party and improves its "strike rate". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'The has tried this strategy many times by fielding their MPs in the assembly elections and have got its benefit. If my candidature in the assembly polls strengthens my party's position and my strike rate increases — we had a 100% strike rate in the Lok Sabha elections, I would like my strike rate to be good in the seats where my party and the alliance will be contesting,' Paswan said in a video clip that he reposted on his X handle. The Union minister said that he did not see himself being confined to central politics for long, adding that his desire to improve conditions in Bihar and people there was the sole reason why he joined politics. 'I have my own vision of Bihar first, Bihari first. In such a situation, I want my state to stand at par with developed states. After becoming an MP for the third time, I realised that it may not be possible (to work for Bihar) by staying in Delhi,' he said. Chiarag also said that he had shared his views before party leaders that he wanted to go back to Bihar 'quickly'. He added that if the party's evaluation finds it will benefit from his contesting in the polls, he would contest in the assembly election. Chirag, who has successfully inherited the reins of the LJP fending off a strong claim by his uncle, is seen as a potential swing factor in Bihar politics because of his hold over fellow Paswans who account for nearly 4.5% of the population. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He has never been loath to leverage this to drive hard bargains and seek to force reluctant partners to acquiesce in his demands. Chief minister and his JD(U) paid a stiff cost for underestimating his 'damage potential' in 2020 as Chirag, angered by the latter's dismissal of his claim for at least 30 of the 240 seats, focused his energy on hurting Kumar's candidates. The revenge strike saw Nitish's tally dipping to 42. BJP helped them patch up and recently Chirag's statement that there was no vacancy for the job of CM was seen as accommodative of JD(U)'s insistence that their leader was deserving of one more term and BJP's desire to spare the CM discomfiture. Chirag repeated this on Monday in response to a question from a reporter.'There is no vacancy for the post of Bihar CM. Nitish Kumar will be on the post after the polls.' However, the tone of the statement and the build up for it, with his brother-in-law, LS member Arun Bharti telling media Chirag could consider an assembly run, suggest that he is not reconciled to being the perpetual fourth fiddle after BJP, RJD and JDU and could he positioning himself for a hard stand in seat-sharing talks among NDA partners, as well for the openings which may come up post -assembly elections.
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Chirag Paswan keen to contest Bihar polls, claims Nitish will remain CM
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Monday said he will 'definitely contest' the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections if his candidature improves the prospects of his party as well as the ruling NDA alliance in the state. When asked about the possibility of his contesting the Bihar polls, Chirag told the media, 'I have already said that I don't see myself in the politics of the Centre for a longer period. The reason for my entry into politics is Bihar and Biharis (people of Bihar). I have my own vision – Bihar first, Bihari first. In such a situation, I want my state Bihar to stand at par with developed states. After becoming an MP for the third time, I realised that it may not be possible by staying in Delhi.' The LJP(RV) chief was talking to reporters at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Chhattisgarh's Raipur. Chirag said he has expressed his wish to contest the Bihar polls to his party. 'The party is evaluating whether my candidature will benefit it. Because when national leaders contest state elections, that strengthens your position in the elections. The BJP has tried this strategy many times by fielding their MPs in the Assembly elections and have got its benefit. So, if my move to enter the poll fray improves the strike rate of my party and performance of the alliance (NDA), which is appearing possible in discussions, then I will definitely contest,' he said. Chirag pointed out that the LJP(RV) achieved a 100 per cent strike rate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar and that he would like his party's strike rate to be just as good in the state Assembly polls due in October-November this year. Contesting the Lok Sabha polls as part of the NDA coalition, the LJP(RV) won all five seats it contested. Asked about the NDA's chief ministerial face in the Bihar polls, Chirag said, 'There is no vacancy for the post of Bihar CM. Current CM Nitish Kumar will be CM again after the poll results.' It is another matter that Chirag has been known for having a strained relationship with the JD(U) and its supremo Nitish. Chirag's statement came a day after LJP(RV) MP Arun Bharti, in an X post, said that the party workers want him to contest the Assembly election and that too from a general seat. 'Our national president Chirag Paswan ji always says that his politics is Bihar-centric and his vision 'Bihar First, Bihari First' is a resolution for a developed and self-reliant Bihar. This is possible only when he himself stays in Bihar and leads. When I went from village to village as the state in-charge, people everywhere had only one demand – that Chirag ji should now play a bigger role in Bihar. Recently, in the party executive meeting, a proposal was also passed unanimously that he should contest the upcoming Assembly elections himself,' Bharti stated. 'At the same time, there is a feeling among the workers that this time he (Chirag) should contest the election not from a reserved seat but from a general seat – so that the message goes out that he is now ready to lead the entire Bihar and not just one section. Chirag Paswan today is not just a representative, he is the hope of the whole of Bihar. His move will give a new direction to the politics of social justice…' Bharti added. Chirag is currently MP from Hajipur (SC-reserved), the constituency of his father and LJP founder late Ram Vilas Paswan. In the 2020 Bihar polls, the then undivided LJP had gone solo, winning just one seat out of 135 seats the party contested, even though it caused damage to the JD(U) on several seats.
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will contest Bihar polls if it improves party's performance: Chirag Paswan
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) supremo Chirag Paswan on Monday (June 2, 2025) said that he would contest the Bihar Assembly election if it strengthened his party and improved its performance in the election due later this year. Speaking to journalists at Raipur, where he had come to attend an event, Mr Paswan played down suggestions of him emerging as the face of the National Democratic Alliance in the election. He saying there was no vacancy and incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would continue to lead after the election. 'So if contesting elections will benefit my party, as in my strike rate gets better… in the Lok Sabha [polls, in 2024], we had a 100 % strike rate and I would want that in the Assembly election too, my strike rate improves in the number of seats I contest. So if my strike rate and the performance of my alliance improves, which is also in discussions, then I will definitely contest,' he said. Earlier, he said when national-level leaders contested State elections, it helped the parties. Citing the example of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said that the BJP had experimented with this on several occasions, and benefited when they fielded their MPs in (State) elections. The remarks come a day after Mr. Paswan's party colleague and Jamui MP Arun Bharti shared a post on X saying party workers wanted Mr Paswan to contest from a general seat to send out the message that he was now ready to lead not just one section of the people but the whole of Bihar. Mr Paswan further said that he didn't see himself in the politics of the Centre for long. 'The reason for my entry into politics is Bihar and Biharis. I have my own vision - Bihar First, Bihari First,' he said. Asked about the chief ministerial face of the NDA for the Assembly election, he said, 'There is no vacancy for the post of Bihar CM. Nitish Kumar will be on the post after the polls.'
India.com
14 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
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.
