As Bihar inches closer to a crucial round of electoral battles, political equations are shifting rapidly — and tensions within alliances are becoming increasingly visible. One such flashpoint has emerged between Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with Chirag’s recent jabs at the JD(U) leader raising eyebrows within the BJP-led NDA camp.
Now, with elections looming large, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to initiate talks with Chirag Paswan, aiming to smooth over friction and preserve the fragile NDA unity in Bihar. The development underscores the delicate balancing act the BJP must maintain between alliance management and electoral arithmetic.
Chirag Paswan’s Verbal Attacks Stir the Pot
In recent weeks, Chirag Paswan has launched repeated verbal offensives against Nitish Kumar, questioning his leadership, governance record, and even dubbing his return to the NDA fold as “political opportunism.” Though Chirag is technically a part of the NDA alliance, his relationship with Nitish Kumar has remained strained ever since the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, when he contested independently and directly challenged the JD(U).
Key statements made by Chirag include:
- Calling Nitish Kumar’s frequent political shifts “ideologically hollow”
- Criticizing the JD(U)’s stance on reservation and development
- Hinting that “some alliances weaken rather than strengthen the NDA”
These sharp remarks have created discomfort within BJP ranks, especially as the party aims to project a united front ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
BJP Steps In: A Damage Control Mission
Sources within the BJP have indicated that senior leaders are likely to hold talks with Chirag Paswan in the coming days to address concerns and maintain cohesion. The move is part of a broader effort to prevent public spats within the NDA from becoming election liabilities.
A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:
“Chirag Paswan is an important ally, especially among Dalit voters in Bihar. At the same time, Nitish Kumar brings administrative experience and OBC support. We cannot afford public bickering to derail our focus.”
The outreach to Chirag is also seen as an attempt to reassert the BJP’s role as the glue holding the alliance together, especially in a politically volatile state like Bihar.
Bihar’s Complex Political Terrain
The political matrix in Bihar is layered and dynamic, with caste equations, regional loyalties, and legacy issues shaping public sentiment. In such a landscape, even minor fissures within alliances can have outsized impacts.
While Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) may technically be on the same team under the NDA banner, their history is anything but harmonious. Chirag famously ran candidates against JD(U) nominees in 2020, contributing to the party’s poor performance in that election cycle.
The challenge for the BJP now is to manage both leaders’ ambitions without allowing their personal rivalry to overshadow the alliance’s collective goal — electoral victory.
What’s at Stake for the BJP?
The BJP’s outreach to Chirag is not merely about optics; it’s about preserving its vote base across communities. Chirag holds sway among Dalit voters, especially the Paswan community, while Nitish commands support among Kuris and other OBC groups.
With the Lok Sabha elections drawing near, the BJP needs both leaders to deliver on their respective turfs. Any open discord could lead to:
- Vote splitting in key constituencies
- Public perception of disunity in the NDA
- Opportunities for the opposition Mahagathbandhan to exploit internal rifts
Realignment or Rising Tensions?
As the BJP prepares to step in and mediate, the next few weeks will reveal whether Chirag’s criticisms were mere pressure tactics for better seat-sharing deals, or signs of deeper ideological and political divergence.
If handled tactfully, this episode could end in reaffirmed unity and mutual understanding. If not, the NDA risks reopening old wounds that could cost them dearly at the ballot box.
In the high-stakes arena of Bihar politics, even allies can turn into adversaries overnight — and the BJP knows that keeping Chirag and Nitish on the same page may be one of its toughest challenges yet.
