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"Like Salt On Vegetables': Chirag Paswan's 25,000 Votes Bihar Poll Warning For BJP

Chirag Paswan has fired yet another warning shot across the bows of Bihar's ruling BJP-JDU alliance ahead of the Assembly election later this year.
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New Delhi:
Chirag Paswan has issued another warning to the BJP-JDU alliance governing Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly election. Speaking exclusively with NDTV on Tuesday, the Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief reminded his coalition partners of his electoral influence, stating, "I'm like salt on vegetables... I can impact 20,000 to 25,000 votes in every constituency," while also hinting at his personal political aspirations.
Mr Paswan is negotiating for a larger allocation of Bihar's 243 Assembly seats. During the 2020 election, the then-undivided LJP (following his father Ram Vilas's death) secured just one seat despite contesting 135. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Chirag Paswan's LJP faction won all five seats it contested.
This nearly one percentage point increase in vote share has emboldened Mr Paswan to signal "yeh dil maange more" to the BJP. Sources informed NDTV he is seeking 40 seats. When questioned, Mr Paswan told NDTV, "I want a decent number of seats... I have a number in mind and I want quality seats."
"But I would not like to disclose those in a public forum. That would be unethical for a coalition partner," he added, noting that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance hasn't formally initiated seat-sharing discussions yet.
He remained noncommittal regarding rumors about his ambition to replace JDU veteran Nitish Kumar as Bihar's Chief Minister. "My supporters want to see me as Chief Minister," he acknowledged, "But this is very normal... for supporters to dream big for their leaders. I don't see anything wrong in that."
Significantly, he emphasized that LJP (Ram Vilas) is not formally part of Bihar's ruling alliance led by the Janata Dal (United). "I'm not part of the NDA government in Bihar. I am just supporting the government. I am part of the NDA only at the centre," he clarified to NDTV.
In a statement likely to put his current allies on notice, he added, "If I am uncomfortable or I am too ambitious... I always have the option of walking out of the alliance."
The LJP enjoys support from the Paswan community, representing approximately six percent of Bihar's electorate.
Chirag Paswan (L) and Nitish Kumar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File).
While the BJP—typically resistant to external pressure unless necessary (as demonstrated after last year's federal election when it accepted support from JDU and TDP led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu)—has offered Chirag Paswan 25 seats. Nevertheless, the party recognizes his potential to derail their re-election campaign. Losing Bihar would not only cost them a crucial heartland state but would significantly boost the opposition INDIA bloc.
NDTV Explains | Why The BJP Has A Chirag Paswan-Shaped Problem In Bihar
Chirag Paswan's Bihar strategy presents the BJP with a considerable dilemma.
Without an agreement, the BJP risks losing Paswan community votes, but excessive concessions might alienate other allies, particularly the JDU, with whom Mr Paswan maintains a delicate relationship.
Mr Paswan has alternated between criticizing and supporting Nitish Kumar, shifting from attacking the JDU leader regarding Bihar's law-and-order situation to endorsing him as the chief ministerial candidate.
"I am critical of Nitish Kumar's government on the law-and-order front," he told NDTV, but maintained, "That is how it should be. This is my way of giving feedback to my own government."
His repeated criticism of the JDU has been noticed; in August, sources indicated the BJP's central leadership had quietly advised Mr Paswan to improve relations with Nitish Kumar.
These criticisms have apparently created divisions within the ruling alliance; former Chief Minister Jitan Manjhi, for instance, took aim at Mr Paswan last week, reminding him of LJP's disappointing performance in 2020.
On this matter, Mr Paswan remained diplomatic, telling NDTV, "Jitan Ram Manjhi is a respected leader. His stature is much higher than mine (but) he has something against me. I don't completely understand."
The comment, he explained, was simply the HAMS leader "trying to position himself" before the election.
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