Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan announced on Wednesday that his party has reached a seat-sharing agreement with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. Paswan made the announcement after a meeting with BJP national president JP Nadda, expressing confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and its ability to secure victory in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Chirag Paswan stated, “As a member of the NDA, today in a meeting with BJP National President Hon Shri @jpnadda ji, we have together finalised the seat sharing in Bihar for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. The same will be announced in due course.” This confirmation indicates the progress made by the NDA alliance in Bihar in terms of seat allocation and electoral strategy.
Paswan expressed gratitude to BJP leaders, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for their support and emphasized the strong bond between the LJP and the NDA alliance. He acknowledged PM Modi’s consistent support for him and his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, and highlighted the enduring friendship between the LJP and the BJP. Paswan also reiterated the NDA’s goal of winning all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, signaling the alliance’s determination to achieve electoral success in the state.
According to reports from PTI, sources suggest that the LJP may contest five out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Paswan’s party is likely to prioritize the Hajipur seat, currently held by his estranged uncle and Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, who leads another faction of the LJP. Paswan views the Hajipur constituency as part of his rightful share due to his father’s longstanding association with it. Ram Vilas Paswan, the founder of LJP and a prominent Dalit leader, represented Hajipur eight times in the Lok Sabha.
Paswan affirmed that the division of Lok Sabha seats among all NDA parties in Bihar has been finalized and will be formally announced soon. He expressed satisfaction with the seat-sharing arrangement and asserted his ownership over the seats allocated to his party. This statement indicates Paswan’s confidence in securing his party’s electoral interests within the NDA alliance.
Addressing concerns about potential differences with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who leads the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], Paswan emphasized the collective efforts of all NDA constituents towards achieving electoral success. He reiterated the alliance’s shared goal of surpassing 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, underscoring unity and cooperation among NDA partners despite differences or disagreements.
Overall, Chirag Paswan’s announcement of the seat-sharing agreement between the LJP and the BJP in Bihar reflects progress in alliance negotiations and reinforces the NDA’s commitment to securing victory in the state. With the electoral landscape taking shape, the focus now shifts to campaign strategies and mobilization efforts as parties prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
