Chirag Paswan Vows Full Presence Across Bihar’s 243 Seats as NDA Ally Ahead of Assembly Polls

Chhapra/Patna: Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has reaffirmed that his party will be active across all 243 seats in the forthcoming Bihar assembly elections, while firmly remaining part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Addressing a large gathering at the ‘Nav Sankalp Mahasabha’ at Rajendra Stadium in Chhapra on Sunday, Paswan clarified that contesting on all 243 seats does not mean fielding LJP candidates everywhere, but ensuring the party’s presence and support on each seat—whether for its own nominees or for those of other NDA partners.

“In every constituency, our party will be present, working for our candidates and for NDA allies alike,” Paswan told the crowd, seeking to underline unity within the coalition as Bihar heads towards the polls.

आज सारण की इस पावन धरती से, आप सबके सामने मैं यह कहकर जा रहा हूँ कि हाँ, मैं चुनाव लड़ूंगा। मैं चुनाव लड़ूंगा बिहारियों के लिए, अपने भाइयों के लिए, अपनी माताओं के लिए, अपनी बहनों के लिए और बिहार में एक ऐसी व्यवस्था तैयार करेंगे, एक ऐसा बिहार बनाएंगे जो सही मायनों में प्रदेश को… pic.twitter.com/jWasAURHrS

— युवा बिहारी चिराग पासवान (@iChiragPaswan) July 6, 2025

Paswan’s remarks come amid speculation about seat-sharing arrangements in the state, given his history in the 2020 assembly elections, when he broke ranks with the NDA and fielded candidates primarily against the Janata Dal (United), led then by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. That move was widely seen as contributing to the JD(U)’s reduced tally of just 43 seats, while the RJD-led opposition crossed the 100-seat mark.

However, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Paswan returned to the NDA fold, campaigning as part of the alliance and helping secure significant gains. The NDA ultimately won 30 out of 40 seats in Bihar in the general election.

Political observers say Chirag Paswan continues to command significant appeal among young voters in Bihar, due in part to his vocal focus on development and youth issues—an area his rivals are seen as neglecting.

With the assembly polls looming, Paswan’s declaration signals both his ambition and the complexities of alliance politics in Bihar, where seat-sharing talks are likely to remain a delicate balancing act.