Chirag wants to return to Bihar politics

Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday clarified that his preference had “always been Bihar and Biharis first”, adding that he had conveyed his desire to soon return to the state politics to the party.

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The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has five Lok Sabha MPs. The party wants to contest 30 to 35 Assembly seats. Sources in the BJP, however, said the party could at the most offer 20 to 22 seats to the LJP (RV).

Sources in the JD(U) and the LJP (RV) said the final call on seat sharing would be taken by the BJP.

“I am in politics because I want to see Bihar developed. I have always said that I don’t see myself continuing in national politics for long. I have a vision of Bihar first and Biharis first. My party is evaluating if my contesting the Bihar poll would benefit it. I had expressed my wish before the party that I want to return to the Bihar politics soon. I want my strike rate to be better. Our strike rate was 100 per cent in the Lok Sabha poll,” Chirag said.

“There is no vacancy for the CM post. Nitish Kumar is the only CM candidate,” he said.

Speaking to The Tribune, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said the BJP, being the single-largest party in Bihar, would take a call on seat sharing in the Assembly elections.

“After meeting Nitish Kumar recently, Chirag said Nitish was healthy and would continue to be the CM,” he said.

Spokesperson for the LJP (RV) Rajesh Bhatt said the party had urged Chirag to contest from an unreserved seat.

“I have urged him to contest from Arah. We want him to return to Bihar and give wings to his vision of Bihar and Biharis first,” he said.

The LJP (RV) will hold a public meeting over seat sharing on June 8.

“The LJP (RV) wants over 30 seats as the party won all five Lok Sabha seats. It is difficult. The BJP can finally settle down on 20-22 seats at the most,” a BJP leader said, requesting anonymity.