Chirag Paswan Emerges as Key Game-Changer in Bihar Assembly Elections

Chirag Paswan and his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) have emerged as one of the biggest surprise performers in the Bihar Assembly elections, defying predictions and reshaping the state’s political landscape. Leading in 22 of the 28 seats it contested, the party has staged a remarkable comeback from its 2020 performance, when it secured just a single seat. The resurgence not only strengthens Paswan’s standing within the NDA but also signals shifting political dynamics across Bihar.

Founded in 2000, the Lok Janshakti Party has had a long and complex political journey. Originally aligned with the NDA, it broke away in 2002 after the Godhra riots. In 2004, the party joined the UPA, with its founding leader Ram Vilas Paswan holding prominent cabinet portfolios. The LJP returned to the NDA in 2014, where Paswan once again served in senior ministerial roles under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Following Ram Vilas Paswan’s death, internal rifts between Chirag Paswan and his uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras, led to a formal split of the party in June 2021. Chirag went on to lead the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while Paras helmed the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, which was a part of the NDA during the 2020 polls.

Chirag Paswan’s relationship with the NDA has not been without friction. In 2020, disagreements over seat-sharing prompted him to contest independently on 137 seats. Though the party won just one seat, it significantly dented JD(U)’s prospects in 29 constituencies. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, however, marked a turning point, with the LJP (RV) sweeping all five seats it contested and reaffirming Chirag’s growing influence within the alliance.

Ahead of the 2025 state elections, Paswan had sought a larger seat share but was ultimately allocated 28 constituencies. Brushing aside speculation of tension within the NDA, he called Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a “necessity” for Bihar and described him as “a lesson in political endurance.”

According to Election Commission trends, LJP (RV) is leading in constituencies including Sugauli, Govindganj, Belsand, Bahadurganj, Kasba, Balrampur, Simri, Bakhtiarpur, Bochahan, Darauli, Garkha, Mahua, Bakhri, Parbatta, Nathnagar, Fatuha, Dehri, Obra, Sherghati, Bodh Gaya, Rajauli, and Gobindpur.

The party’s strong showing has reinforced the NDA’s position, particularly by consolidating Dalit and EBC support bases that were once considered RJD strongholds. In central and western Bihar, its performance has enabled the BJP and JD(U) to deepen their reach in regions traditionally dominated by the opposition.

Chirag Paswan’s transformation from a political outlier in 2020 to a key NDA asset in 2025 marks one of the most consequential shifts in Bihar’s electoral narrative this year.