Union minister Chirag Paswan announced on Sunday that he will contest in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Speaking to supporters at a rally in Saran district, Paswan said he was stepping forward “for the better future of Bihar” and to carry out the aspirations of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan.
“People have been asking me whether I will contest. From this stage, in front of all of you, I want to say yes,” he declared. “I will live and die for Bihar and its people.”
At the national level, Paswan continues to back the NDA while heading the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).
Push for Domicile-Based Job Policy
During the rally, Paswan backed the introduction of a domicile policy for state government jobs. This made him the only NDA leader to support the move publicly, as the current Bihar government has ruled it out, citing constitutional limitations.
Paswan argued the policy was necessary to address long-standing frustrations among job seekers in Bihar.
“This is about the youth,” he said. “This demand didn’t emerge overnight. It’s been there for years.”
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD has already pledged full implementation of such a policy if the Mahagathbandhan coalition wins power.
Paswan took a jab at the opposition, claiming the policy had initially been introduced in 2006 but was removed after the RJD and Congress came to power.
“They always mislead people,” he said. “And if they win again, they will bring an inheritance tax that takes away half your savings.”
Criticism of RJD and Law and Order
Paswan also directed criticism at the RJD’s past governance, suggesting the party had done more harm than good.
He pointed to the recent killing of businessman Gopal Khema in Patna as evidence of worsening security in the state.
“This happened in a posh area. Imagine what’s going on in villages,” he said. “Law and order is collapsing. Action is needed. If not, others will feel emboldened.”
The murder case has sparked fresh conversations around safety in Bihar as election season approaches.
No Word on NDA Seat Arrangement Yet
Paswan deliberately kept everyone guessing about his party’s state-level alliance, even though they’re still with the NDA nationally.
His comments create a clear point of friction with the chief minister’s party, which has consistently opposed his job quota idea on legal grounds.
This is the first real sign of a crack in the ruling coalition. Whether it’s a crack they can paper over or one that will break them apart is now the central question.
