Patna: In a significant move for his party, Chirag Paswan, the national president of LJP (Ram Vilas), and son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, announced a crucial seat-sharing agreement with the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. The decision, unveiled on Wednesday, marks a notable victory for Paswan’s fledgling party within the NDA coalition.
“In a meeting with BJP national president J P Nadda ji, we have together finalized the seat sharing in Bihar for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls,” Chirag stated in a social media post.
Of particular interest was Chirag’s expression of gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support within the alliance and recognition of the LJP. “Prime Minister Modi treated Ram Vilas Paswan as his friend while he was alive and even after his death. I am grateful to him and every worker of my party is thankful to him,” remarked Chirag.
Chirag’s relationship with two key NDA partners in Bihar, notably his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, who leads another faction of LJP, and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been tumultuous. His standing within both the alliance and the party was questioned following his father’s demise in 2020.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the LJP, as part of the NDA, clinched victory in all six contested seats. However, Chirag’s decision to withdraw from the NDA in 2020, citing BJP’s preference for Nitish Kumar over seat sharing in assembly elections, led to a rift. He emerged as a vocal critic of Kumar, fielding candidates against JD(U) and contributing to its underwhelming performance in the state assembly polls.
Further complicating matters, Chirag faced a setback when his uncle Paras led a rebellion in 2021, splitting the party. Despite these challenges, the BJP’s acknowledgment of LJP’s concerns in the seat-sharing arrangement signals a strategic move by Chirag.
While the specifics of the deal remain undisclosed, the allocation of the prestigious Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, held by Ram Vilas Paswan for eight consecutive terms, remains a point of interest. Both Pashupati Paras, the current MP from Hajipur, and Chirag have laid claim to Paswan’s political legacy.
With Nitish Kumar’s reintegration into the NDA, the BJP faces the task of navigating strained relations between Chirag and the Bihar Chief Minister, who have publicly criticized each other. Chirag, when questioned about his differences with Kumar, adopted a diplomatic stance, emphasizing the collective goal of the NDA to secure over 400 seats in the upcoming elections.
For the BJP, the seat-sharing agreement with Chirag may represent just the initial hurdle in a complex balancing act, as negotiations with three other NDA partners in Bihar loom on the horizon.
