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NDTV
11 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Chirag Paswan's Poll Message In Letter To Nitish Kumar On Bihar Rape-Murder
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Union Minister Chirag Paswan criticised Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over the Muzaffarpur rape-murder case, highlighting failures in law and health systems. With assembly polls approaching, his remarks may signal political maneuvering within the ruling coalition. New Delhi: Union Minister and BJP ally Chirag Paswan has written to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, also a BJP ally, on the Muzaffarpur rape-murder case, raising serious questions on the state's law and order situation and public health infrastructure. This letter assumes significance when seen against the political backdrop. Assembly polls in Bihar are due later this year, and Mr Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Mr Kumar's JDU are key players in the state. Also, despite the two leaders' show of bonhomie in recent times, their bitter rivalry in the past has not been forgotten. Mr Paswan has referred to the gruesome rape-murder of a nine-year-old Dalit girl in Muzaffarpur and said the heart-rending incident exposes the failure of Bihar's law and order, social awareness and public health. Union Minister Chirag Paswan writes to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar demanding strict action in the Muzaffarpur Dalit girl gangrape-murder case "All the rapists involved in this heinous crime should be arrested immediately and given the harshest punishment. A high-level judicial inquiry… — ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025 The nine-year-old, whose throat was slit, was first admitted to a hospital in Muzaffarpur and then rushed to Patna. It is alleged that she had to wait hours for a bed at Patna Medical College and Hospital, Bihar's largest healthcare centre. The next day, she died. While her family has accused hospital authorities of negligence, the hospital administration has rejected these allegations. Mr Paswan has written that the victim had to wait for six hours to be admitted to the hospital. He says the doctors and administrative staff of the hospital are as guilty as the accused in the heinous crime. "They did not provide urgent treatment and lost precious time. This is not just negligence, but a crime against humanity," he wrote. The 42-year-old leader, who is Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, leads the LJP (Ram Vilas) and made headlines when his party won all five seats it contested during the Lok Sabha polls last year. Recently, he announced his intention to contest the upcoming state polls, prompting a buzz in Bihar's political circles. Mr Paswan said his party's representatives met the victim's family and assured them justice. "But justice will be incomplete and unacceptable unless the guilty face strict and transparent action on the administrative level," he said, demanding tough action against the accused and an inquiry against the healthcare staff. "This incident is not just a death. It has become a symbol of the failure of our social system and a failure of our constitutional responsibility. If the administration stays silent, this silence will become the biggest crime," he said. Coming months ahead of the Assembly polls, the rape-murder has raised a political storm in Bihar. Opposition RJD and Congress have gone all-out against the Nitish Kumar government and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Mangal Pandey. While the accused has been arrested, a probe has been ordered into what happened at PMCH. The ruling coalition of JDU and BJP has accused the Opposition of politicising the case. Against this backdrop, Mr Paswan's strong remarks are being seen as political posturing in the election season. An NDA ally that can brag of 100 per cent strike rate during the last Lok Sabha election, LJP (Ram Vilas) appears to have made a calculated move to pressure the BJP as NDA partners negotiate seat-sharing for the state polls.
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
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Chirag Paswan's Bihar Gambit: Start By Asking For 45 Seats, Deputy CM 'Dream' In The Long Run?
Last Updated: Sources said LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan is serious about the Bihar assembly polls and is likely to contest from a general seat rather than a traditionally reserved seat The BJP may have made it clear that Nitish Kumar will be chief minister if they win the Bihar assembly election – regardless of the numbers – but Chirag Paswan's desire to leave Delhi and return to state politics is being seen in many quarters as a challenge to the JD(U) leader. Union minister Chirag Paswan, the leader of NDA ally Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), has been 'positioning" himself to ask for a better share of seats, 45 to be precise, reliable sources told News18. 'Chirag Paswan is aware of the sanctity of an endorsement (of Nitish Kumar) by someone like that of Amit Shah (in the Gopalganj rally). He is not in that race (to become CM), let me be very clear about that. But does he want his party to have a fair deal this election and grow bigger? Yes," said a source on condition of anonymity. Chirag on Monday expressed his intention to contest the assembly election. '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'," he said. '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 added. According to sources, Chirag is serious about the election and his party MP Arun Bharti, who is also his brother-in-law, told the media that rather than contesting from a traditionally reserved seat, he will fight from a general seat given he 'represents every segment of society". Sources in LJP (Ram Vilas) said even before their leader's announcement, a quiet audit was being conducted by third parties to find the seat that will ensure a bumper win for him, while also translating into a big help for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Having won from a reserved seat like Jamui and Hajipur (his father Ram Vilas Paswan contested from this seat, which became a bone of contention with his uncle at one point), the Union minister is focused on a general seat like Nawada. 'He will be fighting from Nawada, this Bihar election. It is confirmed," Bharti told News18. The seat has 70,000 Bhumihars, 55,000 Yadavs, 50,000 SC/ST voters and 30,000 each Kushwaha and Muslim voters. It is a mixed constituency that will help him emerge as a face defying Bihar's caste considerations, said people close to him. 'Every alliance leader has the right to operate their party the way they wish to operate. I don't think we need to comment upon it," Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal told News18 in a brief statement, when asked to react to Chirag's intentions. But, why this aggressive push now and can he get 45 seats? Those close to Chirag insisted that he has reason to believe that Nitish Kumar's health may not allow him to complete a full term if the NDA returns to power. In such a scenario, he will have a chance to claim the deputy chief minister's post. At present, he commands a 6 per cent vote share and hopes to increase the bar this time, which is why he wants to bargain hard for 45 seats. Reacting to the seat count, however, a BJP source told News18 that 'we will cross the bridge when it comes". 'It's any alliance partner's right to demand. Last year, after the BJP and JD(U) seat-sharing was done, the BJP had to accommodate smaller allies like the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), led by Mukesh Sahni, from its own quota. Where is the scope? But yes, our leaders will sit with an open mind when the time is right," the source said. In the 2020 election, the JD(U) contested 115 seats but won only 43. The BJP, meanwhile, won 71 out of 110 seats it contested while the HAM won four of seven seats. Vikaasheel Insaan Party won four of the 11 it contested, taking the NDA's score to 125. The LJP, which was part of the NDA, had quit the alliance before the election while the RLSP was also not part of the alliance. First Published: June 03, 2025, 08:30 IST
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.
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.'
