As Bihar Assembly Elections Near, BJP Struggles to Manage Demands of Key Ally Chirag Paswan Amid NDA Seat-Sharing Talks
BJP’s Challenge: Managing Chirag Paswan’s Rising Ambitions
With Bihar Assembly polls on the horizon, the BJP-JDU alliance is preparing for a tough electoral battle against the RJD-Congress combine. However, one of the biggest internal challenges remains handling the demands of a crucial NDA ally—Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan.
- Chirag Paswan’s bargaining stance: After a flawless 5/5 win in Bihar during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chirag is pushing hard for a bigger share of assembly seats.
- Tensions within NDA: Paswan’s public criticism of Nitish Kumar’s government, particularly over law and order, has created discomfort among JDU and smaller allies.
- BJP’s dilemma: The BJP needs to balance keeping Chirag Paswan satisfied without alienating JDU or other NDA partners.
Why Chirag Paswan is Crucial for BJP in Bihar
Chirag Paswan leads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), a faction of the original LJP formed by his late father Ram Vilas Paswan. The party has significant influence over the Paswan community, a vital Dalit vote bank in Bihar, which makes up roughly 6% of the state’s population.
- 2024 Lok Sabha success: The LJP (Ram Vilas) secured all five seats it contested in Bihar, with over 6% vote share.
- 2020 Bihar Assembly impact: The undivided LJP’s solo run won one seat but split votes in nine others, weakening the NDA’s overall performance.
- Potential impact in 2025: BJP fears Chirag Paswan going solo again could harm the NDA, making his cooperation critical.
Seat-Sharing Standoff: Chirag Paswan vs BJP
- Paswan’s demand: Sources say he has asked for 40 assembly seats to contest.
- BJP’s offer: The BJP has reportedly capped the offer at 25 seats.
- Negotiation dynamics: Chirag is leveraging his ministerial position and recent electoral success to press for more influence both in Bihar and potentially at the Centre.
- BJP’s balancing act: Too many concessions could upset Nitish Kumar’s JDU, the alliance’s backbone
Chirag Paswan’s Political Positioning and Future Ambitions
Though he hasn’t openly declared a Chief Ministerial ambition, Paswan’s recent initiatives signal a bid for greater prominence:
- Campaigns like ‘Bihar First, Bihari First’
- Public outreach through ‘Chirag ka Chaupal’
- Positioning as a strong, independent political force within NDA
His approach challenges BJP to manage internal alliances carefully while countering opposition threats.
Previous Election Seat Distribution for Context
- 2020 Bihar polls:
- JDU contested 115 seats
- BJP contested 110 seats
- Allies Vikassheel Insaan Party and HAM contested 11 and 8 seats respectively
- LJP (undivided) contested 134 seats independently
The 2025 assembly polls will test the alliance’s ability to keep partners united while maximizing electoral gains.
With Bihar Assembly elections imminent, BJP’s ability to manage Chirag Paswan’s growing demands without fracturing the NDA coalition will be critical. The young LJP chief’s political ambitions and strategic leverage have created a complex puzzle for the ruling alliance — one that could shape the state’s political future.
