LJP's Chirag Paswan ends suspense, makes big announcement ahead of Bihar assembly election: ‘For better future'
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief also expressed support for the introduction of a domicile policy for government jobs in Bihar, the only NDA leader to endorse it.
Addressing a rally in Saran district that borders his Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency, Paswan said, "People have been asking me whether Chirag Paswan will contest the assembly elections. I want to announce from Saran that yes, Chirag Paswan will contest the elections for the sake of a better future of Bihar."
"I will contest the election for the people of Bihar, for my brothers, mothers, for my sisters. We will build a system in Bihar that will truly take the state forward on the path of development. I will realise the dreams of my father and work for 'Bihar first, Bihari first'. I will live and die for Bihar and its people," he added.
He clarified that he supported the domicile policy "for the sake of the youth" of the state, adding that it has been a long-standing demand of job seekers.
Leader of the Opposition and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav has promised a 100 per cent implementation of the domicile policy if the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan comes to power in the state this year.
Chirag Paswan further noted that the domicile policy was introduced in 2006, but was withdrawn by the opposition parties after they came to power. "The RJD and Congress never think about the betterment of the youth of the state. They always mislead people. If they come to power, they will snatch over half of your wealth via inheritance tax," he stated.
The current Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state has ruled out the possibility of introducing a domicile policy, saying that such a move would be against the Constitution.
Paswan slammed the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and alleged that the people talking about Bihar's development are the ones who have now ruined the state in the 90s.
The Union minister also reacted to the murder of businessman Gopal Khema, who was allegedly shot dead near his residence in the southern area of the Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Paswan expressed concerns over the "rising crime" and the "collapse of law and order" in the state, calling for pressure on the state government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"It is a matter of worry the way crime has risen and law and order has collapsed in Bihar. If such an incident has happened in a posh locality of Patna, then we can only imagine what is happening in villages. It is worrying to see such incidents occur under a government that was known for good governance; then the opposition will have a chance to speak up. Strict action needs to be taken to set a precedent so that such a thing is not repeated," Paswan told reporters.
Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, along with the Janata Dal (United). While LJP is likely to keep its alliance with the NDA for the upcoming Bihar elections, Paswan has not confirmed anything on the matter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Officials to tour BJP-ruled MP to study Indore sanitation model
T'puram: Even as the state govt faces mounting criticism over its handling of waste management, including the toxic smoke crisis from the Brahmapuram fire in Kochi in 2023, a team of senior officials is heading to BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh to study the acclaimed sanitation model of Indore municipal corporation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The move comes months ahead of the local body elections, where the govt's performance on civic issues is expected to be a major campaign theme. A delegation led by local self govt special secretary T V Anupama will visit Indore from July 8 to 10 to study the city's solid waste management practices and sanitation systems. The visit is based on the city's consistent record as the country's cleanest under the Swachh Survekshan rankings. A govt order approving the visit was issued on July 2. This is not the first time that a CPM-led govt in Kerala is turning to BJP-governed states for insights into administrative systems. In 2022, a team led by then chief secretary V P Joy visited Gujarat from April 27 to 29 to study its real-time e-governance dashboard and described the Gujarat model as "remarkable". The latest visit, also coinciding with the chief minister's current trip to the US for follow-up treatment, has once again brought focus to the LDF govt's approach of borrowing governance models from states it has traditionally criticised. It has also reignited political discussions on the CPM's shifting stance on engaging with BJP-ruled states. Back in 2013, the party took a sharp position against even symbolic engagements with BJP leaders. When then labour minister Shibu Baby John met the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad to discuss labour sector practices, CPM demanded that chief minister Oommen Chandy clarify the govt's position. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Pinarayi Vijayan, then CPM state secretary, was vocal in stating that there was "nothing in Gujarat's labour sector Kerala needs to learn. " The party even demanded Shibu's resignation. In contrast, the current official visit to Indore is being undertaken without much political commentary from the CPM, though it comes at a time when the state's own waste management record has been severely criticised. The Brahmapuram fire incident in 2023, which choked Kochi with toxic smoke for days, prompted widespread public outrage and legal scrutiny, exposing serious flaws in Kerala's waste handling infrastructure. "With the local body polls nearing, civic issues like garbage management, sanitation and public health are expected to dominate public discourse. The Indore visit, while aimed at adopting best practices, may also be viewed through the lens of political messaging and damage control," a senior official in the department said on conditions of anonymity. While officials maintain that there is no contradiction in studying successful models regardless of which party governs a state, political observers say such visits inevitably draw attention when past statements and current actions appear misaligned. The key question, however, remains whether these study tours will translate into meaningful reforms on the ground or remain symbolic gestures without follow-through, as happened with the 2022 Gujarat tour.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
MPCC vice-president slams Biren, accuses him of ‘misleading people'
1 2 Imphal: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee ( MPCC ) vice-president Hareshwar Goswami has termed the statement of former chief minister N Biren Singh regarding his hope of bringing a popular govt in Manipur soon as 'misleading the people'. Making a scathing attack on Singh, the MPCC vice-president accused him of repeatedly misleading the people and distorting facts for political gain. Goswami made the remarks during a press conference on Sunday while defending the Congress against allegations made by BJP leaders regarding the imposition of Emergency in 1975. Referring to Singh's recent comment that a "popular govt will soon return to Manipur," Goswami criticised the statement as hypocritical and disconnected from the prevailing crisis in the state. Goswami said the current chaos is the result of the BJP-led administration's failure to ensure peace, governance and unity. He also defended the national Emergency declared by the then Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977, calling it a constitutional decision taken under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution. The MPCC vice-president also reminded that this was the third national Emergency after the one imposed in 1962 during the India-China war and the first internal emergency declared in 1975 due to grave threats to national security, internal stability and economic crisis. Goswami argued that the emergency was declared under constitutional provisions with due process and was justified in the context of the times, unlike the present situation where, according to him, the Centre has failed to respond adequately to one of the worst humanitarian crises in Manipur's recent history. Without sparing the central BJP leadership, Goswami also accused PM Narendra Modi of lacking empathy and compassion. "While Manipur bleeds, the Prime Minister finds time to travel around the world," he said. Further, Goswami accused the Union home minister Amit Shah of lying to the public, regarding the promises of peace and reconciliation in Manipur. "Amit Shah came to Manipur and left with a promise that peace will return within 15 days. It's been more than 2 years now. Where is his promise?" he questioned. Goswami asked the people to see through the alleged falsehoods of the BJP and urged collective efforts to restore democracy, unity, and a government that genuinely represents the people's will.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
SC opens up staff jobs for OBC and SC/ST blocs, 'omits' EWS
Supreme Court (AI-generated image) NEW DELHI: CJI B R Gavai, second from the Dalit community to head the judiciary, has amended the Supreme Court Officers and Servant (Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 1961, to provide for reservations to SCs, STs, OBCs, physically challenged, ex-servicemen and dependents of freedom fighters in direct recruitments to subordinate staff of the apex court. Rule 4A of the Act, amended and substituted on the CJI's instructions, has been gazetted through a notification issued on July 3. However, it omits reservation for candidates belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS), which was introduced by Parliament through Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019. The substituted Section 4A, as gazetted, reads: "Reservation in direct recruitment to various categories of posts specified in the Schedule, for the candidates belonging to SCs, STs, OBCs, Physically Challenged, Ex-servicemen and dependant of Freedom Fighters shall be in accordance with the Rules, orders, and Notifications issued from time to time by the Government of India in respect of posts carrying the pay scale corresponding to the pay scale prescribed for the post specified in the Schedule, subject to such modification, variation or exception as the Chief Justice may, from time to time, specify. " The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced Articles 15(6) and 16(6) to give effect to 10% reservation for EWS in govt jobs and admissions to govt and govt-aided educational institutions. It received Presidential assent on Jan 12, 2019. The constitutional validity of EWS quota was challenged in Supreme Court by more than 20 petitions, mainly on the ground that it exceeded the 50% ceiling on quota imposed by SC in its Indra Sawhney judgment in 1992. A five-judge bench led by then CJI U U Lalit on Nov 7, 2022, by three to two majority, declared that Parliament's decision to provide quota for EWS category was constitutionally valid. The majority view was shared by Justices Dinesh Maheswari, Bela M Trivedi and J B Pardiwala, while Justices Lalit and S R Bhat ruled that EWS quota was illegal. On Dec 6, 2022, NGO 'Society for the Rights of Backward Communities' filed a petition seeking review of the Nov 7 judgment. A five-judge bench led by then CJI D Y Chandrachud on May 9, 2023 dismissed the review petition, thus giving judicial impregnability to the validity of the EWS quota.
