Patna, Bihar – The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] chief, Chirag Paswan, has stated that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was under an "illusion" regarding its strength in the recently concluded Bihar elections. Paswan's statement comes in the wake of the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) decisive victory in the state assembly elections.
The NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], secured a comfortable majority, winning 202 of the 243 seats. This victory is attributed to several factors, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's governance narrative. Furthermore, the increased participation of women voters significantly boosted turnout and influenced the mandate in favor of the ruling coalition.
Chirag Paswan's LJP(RV) emerged as a significant player in these elections, marking a dramatic turnaround from the 2020 elections. In 2020, the LJP managed to win only one seat despite securing nearly 6% of the vote. However, in the 2025 elections, the LJP(RV) won 19 of the 29 seats it contested. This performance has solidified Chirag Paswan's position as a prominent leader, particularly among Dalits and young Biharis. Paswan himself stated that his party has "achieved the position my father had envisioned" in Bihar.
Political analysts note that Chirag Paswan's rise in Bihar became evident during seat-sharing talks, where his party received a fair share despite its poor performance in the 2020 assembly polls. His bargaining power stemmed from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where LJP(RV) won all five seats it contested.
Paswan's success is also seen as the culmination of his strategic decisions, including initially distancing himself from the Nitish Kumar-led NDA and later returning as a strengthened ally. This maneuvering allowed him to carve out a position of independent bargaining power. Before the polls, Chirag Paswan had described himself as "sabji mein namak" (salt in vegetables), essential to any political broth. Winning 19 of the 29 seats his party contested, Paswan proved his mettle in Bihar, propelling NDA past the 200-seat mark.
Conversely, the 2025 Bihar election results represent a setback for Tejashwi Yadav and the RJD. Despite entering the contest as the opposition's chief ministerial candidate, Yadav was unable to convert the anti-incumbency wave against Nitish Kumar into votes. The RJD's performance, leading in just 29 seats, marks its second-worst showing in Bihar, only slightly better than its 2010 performance.
Chirag Paswan met with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar following the election results. "I went to congratulate him. The Chief Minister supported our candidates," he said. Paswan also acknowledged the collective effort of the NDA allies, which contributed to their significant majority.
The Bihar election results have not only reshaped the political landscape of the state but have also solidified Chirag Paswan's position as a key player in Bihar politics. His ability to navigate complex political dynamics and deliver tangible results has positioned him as a leader to watch in the coming years.
