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The Print
a day ago
- Business
- The Print
‘Bihar First, Bihari First'—Chirag Paswan says will contest Bihar polls, backs Nitish for CM
Paswan was talking to reporters at Swami Vivekananda Airport here on his arrival to attend an event of a regional news channel. He also said there is no vacancy for the post of chief minister of the eastern state as incumbent Nitish Kumar will continue to lead post the polls, likely to be held in October-November this year. Raipur : Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Monday said he will definitely contest the upcoming Bihar polls if his candidature consolidates his party's position and 'strike rate'. When asked about his contesting Bihar assembly elections, Paswan said, '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 (to work for Bihar) by staying in Delhi,' he asserted, adding that he had told his party that he wished to return to Bihar (politics) soon. Paswan said several parties benefitted when their national leaders have fought state polls. 'The BJP has tried this strategy many times by fielding their MPs in the assembly elections and have got its benefit. If my move to enter the poll fray strengthens my party and consolidates its strike rate (percentage of seats won against seats fought) then I will contest. We had a 100 per cent strike rate in the Lok Sabha elections. I would like my strike rate to be just as good in the Bihar polls,' he said. Asked about the chief ministerial face of the NDA for the Bihar polls, he said, 'There is no vacancy for the post of Bihar CM. Nitish Kumar will be on the post after the polls.' The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is likely to soon call a meeting of its executive members to formalise a proposal urging Paswan to contest the Bihar assembly elections. PTI TKP BNM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also read: Op Sindoor setting the tone for Bihar polls—yet enemies & frenemies have Nitish Kumar on edge
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Chirag Paswan's Bihar bid: Pressure tactic on BJP or BJP's strategy to replace Nitish? Experts debate
Politics is heating up in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In the latest political googly from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), the party is advocating its party supremo, Chirag Paswan, to contest the assembly elections in Bihar. And not from a reserved, but a general seat. His party is pushing the narrative that Chirag is not just a Dalit leader and should contest the Assembly elections, indicating he is eyeing the Chief Minister's post. All this when the NDA has already declared the upcoming Bihar elections will be fought under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which is even echoed by Chirag Paswan himself. So what explains the Chirag for CM narrative spun by his own party? Watch as experts share their views on this and more on this episode of Political Stock Exchange.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
RJD MP Sudhakar Singh backs Tej Pratap Yadav: ‘Marrying multiple times accepted in Hindu traditions … not a crime'
Tej Pratap Yadav who was expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) last week over his alleged extramarital relationship received support from party MP Sudhakar Singh on Monday. Defending party chief Lalu Prasad's elder son, whom the family has disowned, the Buxar MP and former state minister said marrying multiple times had been 'accepted' in Hindu traditions, and urged Lalu to accept his son's decision. 'Marriage is a personal matter, but I don't consider it a crime … We follow the footsteps of Ram Manohar Lohia who, in his book on Sapta Kranti, wrote that all relationships between a man and a woman are valid except for rape and deceit. If Tej Pratap ji has married again, I don't see it as an immoral act … I, personally, don't believe it is. In Hindu traditions, having two or even three to four marriages has been accepted, and we have heard of such cases. Even today, many such marriages take place,' Singh said. Referring to the late Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan's second marriage, he said, 'Take (Union Minister) Chirag Paswan, for instance. He was born to Paswan's second wife. Many people have had two or three marriages, everyone knows this. It's neither a big deal nor is it a crime. As a father, Lalu Prasad should accept him.' Paswan married air hostess Reena Sharma, Chirag's mother, in 1983. In 2014, after his opponents challenged his Lok Sabha nomination papers about omitting his first wife's name, Paswan disclosed that he had divorced her in 1981. Singh argued that 'such instances are still not uncommon and should not be seen as a social evil'. Last week, a photo on Tej Pratap's official Facebook account showed him with a woman, with the caption claiming that he had been in a relationship with her for over 12 years. He later claimed that his account had been hacked. Soon afterwards, Lalu disowned his son and expelled him from the party for six years, citing his 'irresponsible behaviour' that does not align with the family's values. In 2018, Tej Pratap married Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Prasad Rai. But it did not last long and the two filed for divorce within a year. The matter is currently pending in a family court in Patna. Rai has accused Lalu of knowing all about Tej's affairs and still pushing for the marriage because of political reasons. Aishwarya called her estranged husband's expulsion 'election drama' before the Bihar Assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year. Tej Pratap, according to RJD insiders, has been at odds with his family since his brother Tejashwi Prasad Yadav's rise in the party. However, on Sunday, he posted on X, referring to himself as 'Krishna' to Tejashwi's 'Arjuna'. 'Those dreaming of separating me from my Arjuna, you will never succeed in your conspiracies. You may take Krishna's army, but not Krishna himself,' read the post. In the same post, he mentioned about 'traitors like Jaichand' inside and outside the party while claiming to 'soon expose every plot'. In another post on X the same day, he mentioned his parents, writing, 'My entire world is contained in just the two of you. You are greater than God to me, and any command you give is paramount… I only need your trust and love.'
The Hindu
2 days 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
2 days 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.
