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Putting speculation to rest, Chirag says party not taking 2020 solo route in Bihar polls

Putting speculation to rest, Chirag says party not taking 2020 solo route in Bihar polls

Time of India4 days ago
File photo of Chirag Paswan (Pic credit: PTI)
NEW DELHI: Putting all speculation to rest, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan has said that there will be no repetition of 2020 when his party went solo in the last assembly election in Bihar.
He said his party considers all NDA candidates as their own and hence LJP (RV) is ready to put in its entire effort in securing victory for them in all 245 seats in the state.
In response to a question on the sidelines of the curtain raiser event of World Food India 2025, Chirag said, 'I am reiterating that when I say LJP (RV) will contest all 243 seats, I honestly feel that till you don't treat all alliance candidates as your own nominees, you can't achieve the target for which you are working.
The NDA alliance is working to win more than 225 seats out of 243. I feel that the candidates of JD(U), BJP and others in the alliance are my candidates.
If anyone is feeling happy or enthused that I will repeat the role that I played in 2020 (last assembly election), then there is no reason within the alliance that I get back to that role. The NDA is contesting as a united force.'
Responding to another question on whether Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor was hijacking his 'Bihar first, Bihari first' plank, the minister said none can hijack or copy the idea of another leader.
However, he appreciated Kishor for 'making honest efforts' in the interest of Bihar.
'Prashant ji is playing an honest role in Bihar politics, which I appreciate. I welcome all who appeal to people to go beyond caste and communal politics...There is nothing wrong when people have more options,' he said.
It can be recalled that Chirag had gone solo in 2020 assembly polls and had put up a brave fight in all seats where JD(U) had its candidates. Political pundits attribute poor performance of JD(U) to Chirag's move to put his candidates.
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