Modi 3.0: Chirag Paswan, NDA's trump card in battle of Bihar, clinches ministerial berth at Centre

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, clinched all five Lok Sabha seats on which his party fought in Bihar, as part of the NDA alliance. He was awarded with a cabinet birth at the oath taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 9).

According to reports, Chirag Paswan had been offered ministerial postsin the first and second NDA governments too, however, then the LJP decided that the post should be taken up by his father and party chief Ram Vilas Paswan.

Paswan won the Lok Sabha electionfrom Bihar's Hajipur seat from which his father had clinched victory nine times.

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 has become a milestone in the political journey of Chirag Paswan who started as a politically oblivious man and looked upon his stalwart father for guidance.

Beginning of a political journey

In 2020, a feud began in the family of Paswan soon after Ram Vilas Paswan's death. Both Chirag Paswan and his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras claimed the political legacy of the veteran leader.

The clashes came to an endwith asplit in the LJP as Chirag’s uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras walked out of the party and took four of the six LJP MPs with him andjoined the Modi government.

Chirag during this periodwas in adifficult situation,as he was no more a part of theNDA alliance andhad also lost the party symbol as it went to the Paras faction.

He also took the challenging decision of going alone in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections,before the split which eventually impacted the numbers of JD (U) as the ruling party came down to 43 seats from 70 seats in 2015.

Even after the split and distance from the NDA, Chirag reiterated his loyalty to Narendra Modi.

The direction of political winds changed after PM Modi sent a touching letter to Chirag on the first death anniversary of Ram Vilas Pasawn. This opened his doors to NDA and he was back in alliance in 2023.

Chirag Paswan scores 5/5 in battle of Bihar

Before the 2024 General Elections, Chirag Paswan was seen by the BJP as their best player to secure Paswan votes in the state of Bihar which is deep-rooted in caste politics.

The plan worked very well for NDA as the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) clinched a win on all five seats in Bihar.

In this coalition government of NDA, the allies have been playing a crucial role in strengthening the government and Paswan is one among those important allies.

(With inputs from agencies)