New Delhi/Patna: With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, Union Minister Chirag Paswan has opened up about a pivotal political turning point in 2014, claiming that his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, was initially vehemently opposed to allying with the BJP ahead of Narendra Modi’s first Lok Sabha campaign.
“He told me, ‘I will poison myself than go with the BJP,’ and I could not say much after that,” Chirag said, recalling a conversation with his father who was, at the time, part of the Congress-led UPA government.
Despite that strong stance, Ram Vilas Paswan eventually joined the Modi-led NDA, a move that surprised many given his earlier exit from the alliance over the 2002 Gujarat riots when Modi was Chief Minister. Paswan Sr. served under six Prime Ministers during his political career, which Chirag noted with pride in an interview with Jist.
‘Couldn’t Meet Rahul Gandhi for Three Months’
Chirag also revealed that in the months leading up to the 2014 elections — from November 2013 to mid-February 2014 — he and his father tried repeatedly to secure a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, who was then Congress president.
“We met respected Sonia Gandhi ji several times during this time, but they kept saying a meeting will be fixed with Rahul ji, but that never happened,” Chirag said, expressing disappointment with the Congress leadership.
He implied that this lack of engagement may have contributed to the decision to rejoin the BJP-led camp, despite Ram Vilas’s reservations.
“After my father’s ‘poison’ comment, I didn’t have the courage to push him… But circumstances evolved, and the alliance became inevitable.”
Eye on 2025 Bihar Polls: ‘Will Contest All 243 Seats’
With the Bihar elections expected in October-November 2025, Chirag is positioning himself as a key player — possibly a kingmaker — even as a junior partner in the BJP-JD(U) alliance.
“I will contest in all 243 seats. Every segment will see Chirag Paswan fighting with full intensity,” said the 42-year-old Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader.
While it was unclear whether he meant literal candidates in all constituencies or symbolic presence, the ambition is evident. Chirag has asserted his loyalty to the NDA, even after a party split in 2021 led by his uncle Pashupati Nath Paras, who had aligned with the BJP.
Track Record and Strategy
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Chirag fielded over 130 candidates, with only one win — but claimed that his primary objective, to damage Nitish Kumar, had been achieved.
He was distanced by the BJP during that period and accused the party of orchestrating the split in the LJP. However, by 2024, Chirag was back in the BJP camp, while his uncle was left out.
Political observers note that Chirag understands his role as a Dalit leader, primarily representing the Paswan (Dusadh) community, but in the interview, he projected a broader vision:
“I would want the youth to not be identifying only with caste but with progress.”