Bihar's pre-poll chaos: 'Why do you want to contest Assembly elections?' Nitish asks Chirag Paswan

Patna: Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the two top BJP leaders, have said even once that Nitish Kumar will be the Chief Minister of Bihar if the NDA is voted to power in November 2025.

Add to the ‘circus of confusion’ is a vague statement by LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan that his party is gearing up to contest all the 243 Assembly seats in Bihar. “I may also contest the Bihar Assembly poll,” said Chirag here last week.

An anxious Nitish recently met Chirag during the Prime Minister’s Bihar visit and asked him: “Why do you want to contest the Bihar Assembly election? You are young and presently a Union Minister after winning three consecutive Lok Sabha elections. What is the need for you to contest an Assembly election when you are enjoying your stint as a Union Minister?”

“Bihar is calling me. My party has, therefore, decided that I should contest the Assembly elections,” Chirag reportedly told Nitish.

The conversation between Nitish and Chirag was confirmed by Chirag’s brother-in-law Arun Bharti, who is also a LJP Lok Sabha member from naxal-infested Jamui in Bihar.

Political significance

The development is significant in the sense that it was Chirag, who during the 2020 Assembly elections, spoiled Nitish’s broth by fielding his party candidates against all the JD (U) nominees. Though the LJP could win merely one seat in the 243-member House, Chirag cut Nitish to size and relegated his JD (U) to third position when the ruling party won merely 43 seats, its worst performance since 2000.

Aware of the past acrimony, a curious Nitish then asked his present ally Chirag: “Kahan se ladiyega? (From which constituency will you contest?)”

Chirag replied he had not applied his mind on the constituency as the entire Bihar was his family. “Once I decide the constituency, I will come to you to seek your blessings,” Chirag gave a cryptic reply to Nitish.

Tejashwi's challenge

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Tejashwi Yadav said Chirag should declare himself as the Chief Ministerial candidate instead of bluffing that “Bihar was calling him”. Notably, the LJP (RamVilas) leaders have put up posters and banners that Chirag should be the next CM of Bihar.

However, the JD (U) was quick to clear the air. “When Modi and Amit Shah have said that elections will be contested under the leadership of Nitish, it is obvious that Nitish will be the CM if the NDA is voted to power,” said JD (U) national spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, even as the BJP leaders shied away from joining the vexed debate.