Chirag Paswan Silent on Nitish Kumar’s Leadership for 2025 Bihar Elections

Patna: Uncertainty looms over whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will remain the face of the NDA in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections. Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan, in an interview, stated, “The leader of the NDA will be the Chief Minister,” while avoiding a direct endorsement of Nitish Kumar.

When asked twice about Nitish Kumar’s leadership, Chirag responded, “If the NDA contests under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, he will be the CM. However, this decision will be made collectively by all NDA allies.” Previously, Home Minister Amit Shah also indicated that the CM decision would be finalized post-elections, sparking debates within the NDA.

Chirag criticized the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) re-examination, calling the process flawed. He remarked, “If I were in the opposition, I would have staged protests. However, as part of the government, I respect coalition norms.” He supported Prashant Kishor’s hunger strike over BPSC issues and urged a high-level investigation into the alleged rigging.

Chirag emphasized the need for fairness in the BPSC exam, questioning why a re-exam was conducted if no malpractice occurred. “The Bihar government must ensure justice for all candidates,” he asserted, calling for a single examination and result to maintain integrity.

He also targeted Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav, claiming, “Tejashwi is panicking as the NDA gains momentum in Bihar. With the NDA’s recent by-election victories, we are confident of winning over 225 seats in 2025.”