Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has taken a swipe at Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan over reports suggesting his interest in contesting the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
Speaking in a podcast interview, Tejashwi questioned the ambiguity around Chirag’s political intentions. “If Chirag Paswan or anyone else wants to become Chief Minister, then they should say so openly. What’s the need for this drama of ‘now Bihar is calling me’? Were you driven out of Bihar all these years?” the former Deputy Chief Minister asked pointedly.
The remarks come amid growing indications that Chirag may seek a more prominent role in state politics. LJP (Ram Vilas) leaders, including Jamui MP Arun Bharti, have suggested that the party’s national president could contest the state elections, citing demands from within the organisation.
Chirag, currently a Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, has remained non-committal but has expressed increasing interest in state politics. “My mind is more in Bihar than in Delhi,” he has said in a recent statements, fuelling speculation about a potential shift.
Bharti, meanwhile, reiterated that discussions with NDA allies will determine the path forward. “Chirag ji will only contest if a significant role is agreed upon,” he said, underlining the party’s desire for a leadership position in the state.
Tejashwi’s remarks are seen as a political counter to Chirag’s rising profile in Bihar, where the battle lines are gradually being drawn for the 2025 assembly elections. As parties begin to position their leaders ahead of the polls, the verbal sparring underscores the growing jockeying for leadership and visibility within the NDA and its rivals.
