Chirag Paswan: ‘My Focus is on LJP’s Strike Rate, Not the CM’s Chair’ in Bihar Elections

Central Minister Chirag Paswan announced his potential participation in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, prioritizing the enhancement of his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)’s strike rate over any ambition for the Chief Minister’s position. The strike rate signifies the percentage of seats won out of the total seats contested by a party. He believes a stronger strike rate for his party will bolster the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While interacting with journalists, the Hajipur MP refuted claims of seeking the CM’s post and expressed dismay over efforts to sow discord within the alliance. He stated that the decision to contest will be determined by the parliamentary board of his party. He also drew parallels with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has often fielded its national leaders in state elections. The Bihar Assembly elections are slated for later this year. Paswan clarified that his potential participation aims to improve his party’s strike rate, benefiting the NDA. He lamented attempts to misinterpret his intentions and suggest he is vying for the Chief Minister’s role. In the 2020 Assembly elections, Paswan’s actions, then as the Lok Janshakti Party president, contributed to a decrease in the seats won by the Janata Dal-United (JDU). Currently, Paswan forecasts that the NDA, under Nitish Kumar, will secure its strongest government in Bihar post-elections. The Union Minister disclosed his party’s plan to launch the election campaign with a rally in Arrah, the headquarters of Bhojpur district, on Sunday. Speculations indicate that Chirag may contest from a constituency in the Shahabad region, comprising Bhojpur and neighboring districts. However, the Union Minister remained tight-lipped, stating further rallies are planned before the elections, each involving five to six districts.