Chirag Paswan’s strategic comeback into the NDA proved pivotal in Bihar 2025. By securing 29 constituencies for the LJP(RV) and leading in 22, he not only strengthened the alliance’s performance but also demonstrated his growing political clout, emerging as a decisive figure alongside Nitish Kumar and PM Modi.
BY PC Bureau
November 14, 2025: Five years can change the political landscape dramatically, and Bihar’s 2025 Assembly elections proved just that. The NDA’s unprecedented sweep, driven by the potent combination of JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also bore the unmistakable imprint of a young leader whose comeback reshaped the alliance: Chirag Paswan.
Political analysts are nearly unanimous in crediting Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, alongside the decisive support of women voters, for giving the NDA its cutting edge in this year’s Bihar elections. In 2020, Chirag’s LJP contested outside the NDA, opposing the JD(U) on all seats it could. The result was disastrous for both the JD(U) and the broader alliance. The JD(U) was pushed to third place in the seat tally, while the NDA scrambled to cobble together a government.
Critics at the time questioned Chirag’s political acumen, arguing that he lacked the charisma to inherit the towering legacy of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, particularly after a party split in 2021 when his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras challenged his leadership.
READ: NDA Sweeps Bihar as Nitish Kumar Reclaims “Elder Brother” Tag
Fast forward to 2025, and Chirag’s political fortunes have undergone a remarkable turnaround. By rejoining the NDA and securing 29 constituencies for the LJP(RV) — a negotiation that involved hard bargaining with both JD(U) and BJP — he transformed the alliance’s prospects. Early trends show the party leading in 22 of those 29 seats, a strike rate of nearly 75%, cementing Chirag’s status as a kingmaker within Bihar politics. The achievement is even more striking considering that in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the LJP(RV) had already set a precedent by winning all five seats it contested, signaling that the party was no longer on the margins.
Chirag, 43, has carefully cultivated a dual image as both a ‘Yuva Bihari’ youth leader and a champion of the Dalit cause, staying true to his party’s roots. Analysts note that his rise is not just about seat numbers: it represents a generational shift in Bihar politics, a departure from the old socialist icons to a new cohort willing to play high-stakes politics within established alliances.
Despite the NDA’s historic sweep, negotiations over seats had not been smooth. Both JD(U) and BJP were reportedly reluctant to allocate more than 20 constituencies to the LJP(RV). Chirag’s willingness to explore alternative alliances, including talks with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, underscored his growing political assertiveness. Eventually, he secured 29 seats, demonstrating both strategic acumen and leverage within the coalition.
Looking ahead, Chirag has indicated ambitions that go beyond Bihar. In pre-poll interviews, he suggested he would consider a deputy chief ministerial role, while tempering expectations of becoming the state’s top executive. He also reaffirmed unwavering loyalty to Prime Minister Modi, dismissing any possibility of an alliance shift, and signalling his intent to focus on upcoming Uttar Pradesh and Punjab polls in 2027, and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
As celebrations erupt across Bihar under the slogan “Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai”, the 2025 elections will be remembered not only for the NDA’s dominance but also as the moment Chirag Paswan emerged from the shadows of his father’s legacy to become a political force in his own right, reshaping the state’s political map and asserting his influence within the alliance.
