Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has declared his formal entry into Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections with a vision rooted in his party’s slogan ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’. His announcement has intensified political activity in the state, with opposition parties calling his move a “BJP-sponsored strategy” while NDA allies hail it as a strong push for youth-centric development politics.
Chirag Paswan’s declaration and political vision
Speaking at a packed press conference in Patna, Chirag Paswan said, “My entry into Bihar’s politics is not merely an electoral strategy. For years, Bihar has been denied its rightful share in industrial growth, education, and employment. ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’ is a vision to restore the pride of every Bihari and ensure the state becomes a top economic performer in India.”
He further stated that his father, late Ram Vilas Paswan, always believed in Bihar’s potential to lead India’s eastern industrial corridor. “I want to complete his unfinished dream,” Chirag added.
Key promises under ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’
Chirag outlined his five-point agenda for Bihar’s transformation:
- Employment generation: Establishing industrial zones in districts like Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya to create jobs and stop mass migration of youth to Delhi, Mumbai, and Punjab.
- Educational reforms: Smart classrooms in all government schools, English and coding training at block level, and digital libraries to boost learning outcomes.
- Healthcare infrastructure: District super-speciality hospitals with telemedicine networks covering every panchayat health centre.
- Women empowerment: Self-help group strengthening with seed capital support, reservation of 50% jobs in state projects, and strict women’s safety enforcement.
- Agricultural modernisation: Guaranteeing MSP implementation, modern mandis, farmer-producer organisations, and value-addition units for local produce like litchi, makhana, and mango.
Reactions from opposition parties
The opposition was quick to criticise Chirag Paswan’s announcement. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Mrityunjay Tiwari alleged, “This is purely a BJP-sponsored entry to divide Mahagathbandhan votes. Chirag neither has organisational strength nor grassroots credibility.”
JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar echoed the criticism, saying, “Bihar has seen young leaders making big promises before elections but disappearing later. People want tested governance, not political marketing slogans.”
Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra said, “If Chirag is serious, let him clarify his stand on caste census, reservation protection, and social justice. ‘Bihari first’ sounds good in speeches but the ground reality is shaped by policies.”
NDA’s response to Chirag’s decision
BJP welcomed Chirag Paswan’s proactive stance. Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary said, “Chirag Paswan represents Bihar’s youth aspirations. His ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’ vision aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s development agenda. Together NDA will give Bihar a stable, progressive government.”
However, seat-sharing discussions remain pending, with Chirag indicating his party will negotiate assertively. “We are with NDA but will contest from seats where we have real organisational strength,” he said.
Political analysts on Chirag Paswan’s strategy
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, senior fellow at CSDS, said, “Chirag’s slogan is smart branding aimed at Bihar’s first-time voters and urban youth. However, converting it into votes depends on his ground-level presence, cadre mobilisation, and whether voters see him as more than a spoiler for JD(U)-RJD.”
He added that Chirag’s Paswan community base gives him influence in parts of Samastipur, Hajipur, Jamui, and Khagaria, but he needs cross-caste appeal to perform significantly at the assembly level.
Chirag Paswan’s electoral track record
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Chirag’s LJP contested independently and secured 5.66% vote share, winning only one seat but playing a decisive role in JD(U)’s losses in nearly 30 constituencies. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, his LJP (Ram Vilas) faction, under NDA, performed strongly, winning five out of six seats contested, consolidating his leadership among Paswan voters.
Youth reactions to his agenda
Many young voters welcomed Chirag’s employment and education focus. Priya Singh, a final year engineering student from Patna Women’s College, said, “His English and coding training proposal is good if implemented. We need leaders who understand future job markets.”
On the other hand, some questioned his organisational capacity. Ravi Kumar, a postgraduate from Magadh University, said, “He has vision but building an assembly-level cadre in six months will be tough.”
Women’s groups weigh in on his promises
Women SHG members in Muzaffarpur said Chirag’s promise of seed capital and reservation in state jobs is encouraging. Sunita Devi, an SHG leader, said, “If he helps us scale our dairy and pickle units with proper market linkages, it will empower thousands of women.”
Challenges ahead for Chirag Paswan
Political observers identify three major challenges for Chirag:
- Building a robust organisational network across all assembly segments
- Expanding support base beyond Paswan voters to other Dalit and EBC communities
- Translating his Lok Sabha visibility into assembly votes, which require different booth-level strategies
Next steps for his campaign
Chirag Paswan announced that his party will conduct ‘Bihar First Yatra’ covering all 38 districts, interacting with students, farmers, women’s groups, and youth entrepreneurs to frame a constituency-wise development agenda. His manifesto will be released by August-end, focusing on district-specific industrial and educational interventions.
Final analysis
Chirag Paswan’s formal entry with ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’ positions him as a youthful development-oriented challenger in the state’s crowded political landscape. Whether he emerges as a decisive kingmaker, a coalition player, or a symbolic spoiler will depend on his party’s ground mobilisation, alliances within NDA, and the resonance of his vision with Bihar’s aspirational electorate.
