Chirag Paswan, the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in Bihar, was sworn in as a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet on Sunday. Elected from the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency, Chirag Paswan achieved a significant victory with 6.14 lakh votes, surpassing his closest RJD competitor by more than 1.7 lakh votes. This Lok Sabha election was a crucial moment in his political career, highlighting his emergence as a prominent figure in Bihar and at the national level.
Chirag Paswan’s choice to run from Hajipur held great significance, as this constituency had been represented eight times by his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, a prominent Dalit leader in Bihar. Additionally, under Chirag Paswan’s leadership, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) performed exceptionally well, winning all five Lok Sabha seats it contested in Bihar. This victory follows a period of internal conflict within the LJP, which resulted in the party splitting into two factions, one led by Chirag and the other by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras.
THE BEGINNING
Chirag Paswan entered the political arena more than ten years ago, following a short period in Bollywood where he acted in the 2011 film ‘Miley Naa Miley Hum’ alongside actor-turned-MP Kangana Ranaut.
Under the guidance of his father Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag made his debut in the Lok Sabha from Jamui in 2014 and successfully retained the seat in the 2019 general elections.
After the passing of Ram Vilas Paswan in 2020, a familial and political divide emerged between Chirag and his uncle Pashupati Paras.
Despite these obstacles, Chirag took charge of his party during the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections and chose to contest independently from the NDA. His decision to field candidates in JD(U) constituencies had a significant impact on the performance of the Nitish Kumar-led party, resulting in a decrease in their seat count from over 70 in 2015 to just 43 in 2020. This courageous move solidified Chirag’s position as a prominent Dalit leader in Bihar.
THE BIG LJP SPLIT
In 2021, the escalating conflict between Chirag and his uncle caused a division within the LJP, resulting in rival factions. Paras managed to secure five out of the six LJP MPs, leaving his nephew’s faction with only one MP and no MLAs. The BJP initially supported Paras by appointing him as a Union minister. Chirag found himself in a difficult situation as he not only lost his place in the NDA but also saw the party symbol being taken by his estranged uncle’s faction. Despite these challenges, Chirag remained unwavering in his support for Narendra Modi. He also launched an extensive public outreach initiative called the “Ashirwad Yatra,” which received significant backing from the people of Bihar.
During the negotiations for Lok Sabha seat distribution, Chirag’s group successfully secured all five Bihar Lok Sabha seats, including Hajipur, at the expense of Paras. Chirag relinquished his Jamui seat to run from Hajipur, emerging victorious in a significant contest. This triumph further cemented Chirag’s position as the rightful successor to his father’s political heritage. With his appointment to the Modi 3.0 cabinet, Chirag Paswan is now positioned to extend his reach beyond Bihar, making his mark on the national political arena.