Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday reaffirmed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will return to power after the upcoming assembly elections. Despite recently expressing “regret” over supporting the current Bihar government, Paswan stood firm in his prediction of Kumar’s continued leadership.
“Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the elections in Bihar will be fought, and Nitish Kumar will take oath again as the Chief Minister,” Paswan told reporters.
The statement comes just days after Paswan voiced disappointment over alleged law and order lapses under Nitish Kumar’s administration, accusing it of “surrendering to criminals.” However, his remarks on Monday signal a unified NDA front heading into the state elections.
Support for Modi and NDA Unity
Paswan, the MP from Hajipur and Union Minister of Food Processing, reiterated his loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the NDA a “winning combination.”
“My commitment and love are for Prime Minister Modi. We will fight this election under his leadership,” he said.
Operation Sindoor and Opposition Criticism
Paswan strongly condemned the Opposition for politicizing Operation Sindoor—a sensitive military operation. He accused them of questioning the armed forces’ credibility just to target PM Modi.
“Operation Sindoor was a military operation, not a political stunt. But to attack the Prime Minister, the Opposition is casting doubt on the Army’s intentions. What kind of mindset is this?” he asked.
Paswan emphasized that the Prime Minister deserves credit for having the political will to approve such a significant operation.
“The willpower to greenlight such a mission comes from the PM. But instead of saluting the Army’s success, the Opposition is undermining it,” he added.
On Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar
Addressing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, Paswan clarified that this process is routine and now incorporates digital verification.
“This isn’t happening for the first time. It’s happened four times before. The only change now is that people can submit details online,” he explained.
He pushed back against claims of voter list manipulation, asserting that the Opposition has provided no concrete evidence.
“The names being deleted are either duplicate or incorrect. There is a three-tier appeal system. No injustice will be done,” Paswan assured.
Targeting the Opposition’s Strategy
Responding to RJD MP Manoj Jha’s proposal for a fact-finding committee on Bihar’s law and order situation, Paswan dismissed the idea.
“I am a Bihari. I don’t need a committee to understand my own state. When I express concern, they call it rebellion. But it’s not rebellion—it’s concern.”
He also accused the Opposition of attempting to divide the NDA, stating that their electoral strategy hinges on weakening the ruling coalition.
“The Opposition cannot win on merit. Their only hope is to create fissures within the NDA,” he said.
On Parliament and Political Conduct
Paswan expressed frustration with the Opposition’s behavior in Parliament, particularly their demands for a special session on Operation Sindoor followed by disruptive conduct.
“They demanded a session, and when it was convened, they caused ruckus. Is this the kind of accountability the public expects?” he asked.
He urged political leaders to stop turning national security issues into political weapons.
“Politicizing every issue is not a healthy sign for democracy. Ask questions, yes—but don’t misuse platforms for personal political gain,” the minister concluded.
