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The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
To fill ‘obvious gap' ahead of Bihar polls, Chirag and party attempt Bahujan makeover
In a bid to cast its net wider in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections scheduled later this year, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is attempting to rebrand itself as a 'Bahujan' outfit. In an interview to The Hindu,theparty's Lok Sabha MP and strategist Arun Bharti said that 'Chirag Paswan is a Bahujan leader and LJP (RV) is a Bahujan party'. On June 29, the LJP (RV) hosted a Bahujan Bhim Sankalp Samagam in Nalanda, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's constituency. This was the first time that the party, formed three-and-a-half years ago after a split in the Lok Janshakti Party founded by the late Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, organised a political programme under the banner of Bahujan, an overarching term often used for a coalition of Dalit, Other Backward Classes, Tribes and minorities. Justifying the switch from being known as a Dalit to a Bahujan party, Mr. Bharti said, 'There is an obvious gap in Bahujan leadership in the Hindi belt. The leaders who had led the Bahujan movement either are not there or have become weak. There is no leader qualified to represent this group. Chirag Paswan, even while being in government, offers the only voice who takes up the concerns of this group.' Mr. Paswan recently announced that he will contest the Assembly elections and specified that he will pick a non-reserved seat. Explaining the reason, Mr. Bharti said, 'Chirag Paswan or LJP (RV) is not a political outfit of one caste, creed or community. We speak for one and all.' Barring two Assembly polls in 2005 (February and October), the erstwhile LJP, led by Ram Vilas, never got a double-digit vote share in Bihar since its formation in 2000. Its vote share has ranged from five to close to seven per cent, which also coincides with the Paswan population in the State. It reflects the LJP's failure to hold any influence over other Dalit caste groups. According to the 2022 caste survey in the State, Dalits comprise an estimated 19.65% of the State's population. To a question on whether repeated remarks by Mr. Paswan and the party on the need to rise above the caste divide ignored the State's reality, Mr. Bharti said that fragmentation in the electorate into various groups suits certain parties but it does not necessarily help the voter. 'Yes, caste is a truth of the society. But we must also remember that poverty or illness does not differentiate between various castes or religions,' he added. On whether Mr. Paswan is a Dalit leader and his party a Dalit outfit, Mr. Bharti said, 'We would have been in the past... Right now, Chirag Paswan is a Bahujan leader and LJP (RV) is a Bahujan party and going ahead it is going to be our endeavour to make this party a national party so that we can raise the voice for caste or class.' LJP (RV) will hold another round of rallies in south Bihar. The focus on the region is deliberate, said Mr. Bharti. 'There are certain regions in Bihar — Shahbad and Magadh – where the NDA did not perform well. For example, in Shahbad, out of 22 seats, the NDA got only two seats (in the last Assembly election). If you are a responsible ally, you have to show strength in the areas where you can make the NDA stronger. We have seen that Chirag Paswan's presence here brings in greater turn out in favour of the NDA,' he added.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Will contest polls ‘for Bihar', says Chirag
1 2 Patna: Union minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday said he would contest the upcoming assembly elections "not in Bihar, but for Bihar," brushing aside what he described as attempts by jittery opponents to block his political path. Addressing a rally titled 'Bahujan Bhim Sankalp Samagam' at Rajgir in Nalanda, CM Nitish Kumar 's home district, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president appealed to the public to remain vigilant against what he called a "false narrative" being peddled by the opposition INDIA bloc. Paswan accused the alliance of misleading the public by claiming the Constitution and reservation would be in danger if PM Narendra Modi returned to power. "They tried the same scare tactics in the Lok Sabha election, but people didn't believe them and stood with PM Modi," he said. Taking aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Union food processing minister said, "These days, Rahul roams around waving the red book of the Constitution. But when will he apologise for the Emergency imposed by his grandmother Indira Gandhi, which was the real murder of the Constitution?" He added that those supporting the INDIA bloc were once victims of the Emergency. "Back then, some of them went to jail under Indira Gandhi's regime. Today they are aligning with the same Congress party. Jayaprakash ji gave the slogan of Sampoorna Kranti to overthrow the Congress. Lalu was with him then. Now he stands with the Congress that insulted JP," Paswan said. The Hajipur MP also hit out at RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, mocking his promise to bring change in 20 months if elected. "He should first return the land he got in exchange for jobs during his father Lalu Prasad's tenure as railway minister," he said. Paswan recalled his 2020 slogan 'Bihar First, Bihari First' and said it had caused discomfort to many back then. "Now that I'm returning to Bihar, their discomfort has only grown. Every drop of my blood is for Bihar. As long as Chirag Paswan is alive, there is no threat to the Constitution or to reservation," he said, urging voters to re-elect the NDA in Bihar.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
At Nitish's turf, Chirag says Opposition leaders fear his arrival in Bihar
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Sunday (June 29, 2025) pledged to transform Bihar while addressing an impressive crowd at the 'Bahujan Bhim Sankalp Samagam' held in Nalanda's Rajgir, the home district of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. It was Mr. Paswan first public rally after making a formal announcement in Ara three weeks ago that he would contest the upcoming Assembly election. Addressing the large crowd, the Hajipur MP said that such support reflected the people's resolve for social justice and equality. 'To transform and develop Bihar, all Biharis will have to become Chirag Paswan with me. I will contest all 243 seats in Bihar, and wherever there are alliance partners, I will fight as Chirag Paswan so that Bihar becomes the number one State and Biharis too become number ones,' Mr. Paswan said. Also Read | Chirag Paswan: From Parliament to Patna Attacking the Opposition, Mr. Paswan said that since he speaks about the development of Bihar and the education of the youth, the Opposition leaders in Bihar fear his arrival in State politics. 'The family of Lalu Prasad once gave jobs but took away the land of the poor, backward, and Bahujans. Tejashwi Yadav ji is talking about giving jobs again, so tell us, what will they take away this time in return? But I have come to fight selflessly for Bihar and Biharis. I stand as a shield to protect the rights of Bahujans. Today the whole of Bihar is unitedly saying 'Bihar First-Bihari First',' Mr. Paswan said. He pointed out that his father and Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan had brought honour to Babasaheb B. R. Ambedkar. He added that Dr. Ambedkar is a God of the Bahujans and his party has always fought and will continue to fight for the rights and respect of the Bahujans. Also Read | People of Bihar will decide from which seat I should contest Assembly polls: Chirag Paswan He urged the people not to fall for the false narrative of the Opposition that the BJP was trying to end reservation in the country, which was raised during the Lok Sabha election. Further attacking the Opposition, he said as long as 'Chirag Paswan is alive, there will be no threat to reservation'. 'The Opposition and the Leader of the Opposition may exert as much force as they want, but they won't be able to divert me from my resolve of 'Bihar First, Bihari First' as long as you all stand firmly with me,' Mr. Paswan told the crowd. Taking a dig at the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Mr. Paswan said when he announced he wanted to return to Bihar, it increased the anxiety of the same people who, in the nineties, forced millions of Biharis to migrate. Analysis | Ahead of polls, all eyes in Bihar on Chirag Paswan's next political move Incidentally, when Mr. Paswan had announced that he would contest the Assembly election, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Mr. Yadav, had asked him to clarify if he wanted to become the Chief Minister. Through the rally, Mr. Paswan gave a clear indication that he was looking to expand his voter base and did not want to restrict himself to votes of the Paswan community, which accounts for nearly 5.33% of the State population. Overall, Scheduled Castes constitute 19.65% of the State's population, as per the latest caste survey. 'Until I make Bihar a developed State, I will neither rest nor tire. This is not just a promise, it is my resolve. Be it children or the elderly, women or youth, people from every section will be united under Chirag's leadership to empower the resounding voice of the Bahujan movement. This is not just a gathering, but a resolve of Bahujan self-confidence and dedication,' Mr. Paswan said. Also Read | Caste enumeration is the need of the hour: Chirag Paswan He added, 'In the era of Indira Gandhi, the Constitution was murdered and Emergency was imposed. Today, the INDIA bloc, sitting on the lap of that same Congress, is championing democracy!' Mr. Paswan urged the people to ask RJD leaders why they supported the Congress now after going to jail for opposing the Emergency. 'People should further question those leaders, who themselves suffered during the Emergency, why have had forgotten everything in their greed for power,' he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Bihar first, Bihari first': Chirag Paswan reveals reason behind his Bihar poll entry; says opposition all 'jittery'
Chirag Paswan Union minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday said that he wants to contest the upcoming assembly elections 'for the sake of Bihar,' and brushed aside attempts by 'jittery' rivals to block his path. Addressing a rally titled Bahujan Bhim Sankalp Samagam at Rajgir in Nalanda, the home district of CM Nitish Kumar, Paswan slammed the opposition INDIA bloc, accusing them of misleading voters. He urged people to be careful against the 'false narrative' of the bloc which 'alleged during the Lok Sabha polls last year that the Constitution will be under threat if Prime Minister Narendra Modi got a third consecutive term.' "They are trying to play the same trick again in the run up to assembly polls. But you must remember that the worst attack on Constitution came during the Emergency when the Congress was in power and countless young men, mostly Dalits, minorities and OBCs, had been forcibly sterilised,' said the Lok Janshakti Party president. The Hajipur MP further criticised the Congress for allegedly using minority concerns as a political tool. 'Today the Congress and its allies are busy trying to present themselves as the champions of minorities by attending a rally in Patna where they are opposing the Waqf Act which had been brought for the benefit of poor Muslims. They should be asked about the Turkman Gate massacre,' he said. Paswan also took aim at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for aligning with the Congress 'just for the sake of power'. He challenged him to 'seek an apology from Rahul Gandhi for excesses during the Emergency, the sufferers of which include his own father (RJD president Lalu Prasad)'. He went on to attack Rahul Gandhi for 'carrying a red copy of the Constitution', accusing the Congress of sidelining Babasaheb Ambedkar while in power. 'It was the government of VP Singh, supported by the BJP, in which my idol and father late Ram Vilas Paswan a minister, that Bharat Ratna was given to Babasaheb, his picture was installed in Parliament and the report of Mandal Commission, put by the Congress in cold storage, was implemented,' he said. Talking about the issue of reservation, Paswan said that the opposition keeps on raising a "false alarm." 'The opposition keeps raising the false alarm that reservation will be scrapped. Let me give you the guarantee that this is not going to happen, as long as Chirag Paswan is alive,' he assured the people. Reflecting upon his comeback to the Bihar politics, he said that it symbolised people coming back to the state after fleeing from the lawlessness during the RJD rule. 'Many people are jittery that I want to come to Bihar. They are trying to know whether I will be contesting elections here. I wish to tell them, I want to contest assembly polls for the sake of Bihar. So that my dream of Bihar First, Bihari First is realised,' he said. Paswan said that even though hurdles are being placed through his way, he won't be discouraged, adding that previous attempts to weaken him by splitting his party and creating rifts in his family had failed. He urged his party workers to spread out across all 243 assembly constituencies and campaign for the NDA's victory with the same determination as if he himself were contesting. 'You give me NDA's victory in assembly polls. I will give you a developed Bihar,' he added.
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Want to contest Assembly polls for the sake of Bihar: Chirag Paswan
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president addressed a rally titled 'Bahujan Bhim Sankalp Samagam' at Rajgir, in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's home district of Nalanda.
