Chirag Paswan Endorses Nitish Kumar as Bihar’s Next Chief Minister
New Delhi: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan announced on Monday that Nitish Kumar is set to continue as Bihar’s Chief Minister following the upcoming assembly elections later this year. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, Paswan, who represents Hajipur in Parliament, expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a formidable electoral force and reaffirmed his loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Paswan’s endorsement comes just days after he voiced concerns about supporting the Nitish Kumar-led government, citing its alleged failure to curb rising crime in Bihar. Despite this, he emphasized that the NDA, under Modi’s leadership, would contest the elections with Kumar as its chief ministerial candidate. “I’ve repeatedly stated my commitment to the Prime Minister. The Bihar elections will be fought under his leadership, and post-results, Nitish Kumar will take oath as Chief Minister again,” Paswan told reporters.
Addressing the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls, Paswan downplayed opposition criticism, noting that the process, now digitized, has been conducted four times previously without issue. He clarified that Aadhaar cards lack birthplace details, and individuals can appeal any discrepancies at three levels. “The opposition has made a lot of noise, but where’s the evidence of wrongful removals?” he questioned, defending the process as a means to ensure accurate voter lists while preventing misuse by non-residents.
Paswan also criticized the opposition for politicizing Operation Sindoor, accusing them of undermining the Indian Army to target Modi. “The operation’s success belongs to the Army, but the Prime Minister’s resolve made it possible. The opposition questions our forces while trusting foreign leaders,” he said. He further slammed their disruptive behavior during a special parliamentary session on the issue, calling it a misuse of the platform for political gain.
Responding to a suggestion by RJD MP Manoj Jha for a fact-finding team to assess Bihar’s law and order situation, Paswan asserted, “As a Bihari, I don’t need a committee to understand my state’s challenges. My concerns are not rebellion but a call for accountability.” He accused the opposition of hoping for an NDA split, claiming they lack the strength to win independently.
Paswan’s remarks underline the NDA’s unity and his support for Kumar’s leadership, despite earlier critiques, as Bihar gears up for a critical electoral battle.