LJP-R chief Chirag Paswan has announced that his party will contest all 243 assembly seats in Bihar. However, he has left the decision of which seat he will contest from to the public.
Bihar Politics: Bihar's political landscape is once again witnessing heated rhetoric. Following Chirag Paswan's statement, "I am the son of a lion," Mukesh Sahni, president of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), has retorted with sharp sarcasm. Chirag Paswan recently claimed that his party would contest all 243 assembly seats in Bihar and that he would fight for Bihar not just as a leader, but as a son. Responding to this, Mukesh Sahni questioned, "If he's a lion's son, why contest only half the field? Why not the entire field?"
Mukesh Sahni's Attack on Chirag
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Mukesh Sahni questioned Chirag Paswan's strategy. He stated: "He doesn't have the courage to fight on all 243 seats. Earlier, he only contested 135 seats, and that too only in the name of fighting Nitish Kumar. A lion's son doesn't choose only half the field. I wish him well, but there's a huge difference between claims and reality in politics."
Mukesh Sahni also made a sarcastic remark about Chirag's political position, stating that as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in power, Chirag will remain under his shadow. He predicted that as long as PM Modi remains in power until 2029, Chirag Paswan will continue to follow him. He asserted that Chirag has not proven himself to be an independent leader.
Chirag's Claim: I am a lion's son, I will fight for Bihar
Chirag Paswan recently stated at an LJP-R event that 2025 will be a decisive year for Bihar and that he will strengthen the politics of social justice and development in the state. He criticized the Congress and RJD, saying this election is not just about power, but about respect and development. He urged the public to question what leaders have achieved in past years.
He emphasized that the time for blind faith is over. Chirag indicated that he would also contest the assembly elections, but left the decision of which seat to the public.
VIP versus LJP-R: Battle for Backward Votes
In Bihar's political landscape, both Mukesh Sahni and Chirag Paswan are vying to present themselves as the biggest representatives of the backward and Dalit classes. Mukesh Sahni is trying to strengthen his hold among the "Mallaha Samaj" and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), while Chirag Paswan is trying to garner Dalit votes to carry forward his father Ram Vilas Paswan's legacy. Analysts believe this verbal battle could affect polarization and seat-sharing in the upcoming assembly elections.
2025: A Direct Fight for Power?
- The Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 are about a year away, but political activity is already at its peak.
- On one hand, the BJP-JD(U) alliance is moving forward with an agenda of social justice and development.
- On the other hand, the RJD and Congress in the Mahagathbandhan are trying to strengthen their base through populist promises.
- Meanwhile, smaller parties like LJP-R and VIP are preparing to become "kingmakers".
