'Not Just One Community's Leader': LJP Hints Chirag Paswan May Contest Bihar Assembly Polls From General Seat; Party Pushes For Broader Representation

The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has signalled a significant shift in its electoral strategy, urging party president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections from a general seat. This marks a departure from Paswan’s previous Lok Sabha campaigns, which were limited to reserved constituencies like Jamui and Hajipur.

Arun Bharti, the party’s Bihar in-charge and Jamui MP, took to social media on Sunday, June 1, to express the sentiments of party workers, advocating for Paswan’s candidature from an unreserved constituency. “The general sentiment of the party workers is that Chirag Paswan should contest assembly elections from a general, and not reserved seat,” Bharti posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Have a look at his post here:

जब नेता पूरे बिहार का है, तो सीट का दायरा क्यों सीमित हो ?

कार्यकर्ताओं की यह भी भावना है कि इस बार @iChiragPaswan जी बिहार विधानसभा के चुनाव में किसी आरक्षित सीट से नहीं, बल्कि एक सामान्य सीट से चुनाव लड़ें - चिराग पासवान अब सिर्फ़ एक समुदाय की नहीं, पूरे बिहार की उम्मीद हैं।

— Arun Bharti (@ArunBhartiLJP) June 1, 2025

Bharti’s remarks are being seen as an early move to position Chirag Paswan as a potential chief ministerial candidate. “When the leader is from entire Bihar, then why should the scope of the seat be limited?” he asked, adding that both party cadres and the people of Bihar want Paswan to “play a bigger role.”

“Chirag today is not just a representative but the hope of the whole of Bihar,” Bharti added, suggesting that Paswan’s appeal cuts across caste and community lines.

Political observers view the statement as a direct attempt to contrast Paswan with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who, critics argue, is nearing the end of his political tenure.

In another X post, Bharti wrote, "Chirag Paswan today is not just a representative, he is the hope of the whole of Bihar. His move will give a new direction to the politics of social justice - in which along with representation, the fight for universal acceptance will also be fought."

हमारे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @iChiragPaswan जी हमेशा कहते हैं कि उनकी राजनीति बिहार केंद्रित है और उनका विजन “बिहार फर्स्ट, बिहारी फर्स्ट” एक विकसित और आत्मनिर्भर बिहार का संकल्प है। यह तभी संभव है जब वे खुद बिहार में रहकर नेतृत्व करें।

जब मैं प्रदेश प्रभारी के रूप में गांव-गांव…

— Arun Bharti (@ArunBhartiLJP) June 1, 2025

While Chirag Paswan is yet to confirm his intent to enter the assembly race, the LJP’s messaging reflects an ambition to reframe him as a statewide leader capable of contesting from any seat, not just those reserved for Scheduled Castes. The move could also broaden the party’s voter base as Bihar heads into a high-stakes election season.