Chirag Paswan Hints at Bihar Poll : ‘Don’t See Myself in Central Role, Want to Return’
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday strongly indicated his desire to return to Bihar state politics, stating he doesn’t envision himself in a central role for the long term and that his primary political focus has “always been Bihar and Biharis.” His comments come amidst growing speculation and party-level discussions about him contesting the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, expected later this year.
Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Paswan emphasized that his core political motivation is the development of Bihar. “I have said this previously, that I don’t see myself in National politics for long. The only reason I came into politics was Bihar and Biharis. My vision has always been ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’, and I always want Bihar to prosper and be at par with other developed states,” he said.
The third-term Lok Sabha MP, currently serving as Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, added, “And I have realised after becoming an MP for the third time that this would not be possible in Delhi. I had expressed my wish before the party (Lok Janshakti Party – Ram Vilas) that I want to return to Bihar soon.”
While Paswan made his personal preference clear, he also stated that his party is currently evaluating the strategic benefits of him contesting the state elections. “My party is still evaluating whether my party will benefit if I contest the Vidhan Sabha elections now. If my strike rate gets better and the performance of my alliance gets better, of which there are high chances, then I will definitely contest,” he affirmed. However, he dismissed any chief ministerial ambitions, stating, “There is no vacancy for the CM post in Bihar. Nitish Kumar will become the CM after the elections.”
These remarks follow reports from Sunday that the parliamentary board of LJP (Ram Vilas) had decided in favour of Paswan contesting the Assembly polls, likely from a general, unreserved seat. This move is seen by some within the party as a way to project him as a leader for all of Bihar, not just a specific community. Speculation was further fueled by a social media post from Jamui MP and Paswan’s brother-in-law, Arun Bharti, who questioned limiting Paswan’s scope to a particular type of seat when he is a “leader of the whole of Bihar.”
The LJP (RV), a key NDA ally, is reportedly gearing up for the state polls, with some party insiders suggesting Paswan might even resign from his Union Cabinet post to focus on Bihar. The party is also expected to hold a ‘Nav Sankalp Mahasabha’ in Ara on June 8, which could be a platform for further announcements.
The term of the current Bihar Legislative Assembly is set to end on November 22, 2025. Sources indicate the Election Commission of India is likely to hold the state polls in two to three phases, possibly in October-November, while trying to avoid clashes with major festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is also expected to visit Bihar this month to review poll preparedness, and training for election staff has reportedly commenced.
