BJP opts for Chirag in Bihar, leaves Pashupati Paras in cold

BJP has settled seat sharing issue among alliance partners in Bihar after several rounds of discussions with them. The biggest obstacle was the decision to choose between Chirag Paswan and his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras.

Realising that the vote bank lies with Paswan, the party has promised five Lok Sabha seats to Paswan while leaving no seat for Paras. Paras was informed about the deal by BJP leader Mangal Pandey on Wednesday. Chirag and Paras had parted ways in June 2021 when Paras broke away with five MPs, including himself, leaving Paswan alone. Paras later became a Union minister.

However, post the deal, two MPs of Paras camp - Veena Devi and Mehboob Ali Kaiser - have joined Paswan. Paswans account for 5.3% of Bihar's population as per the latest caste survey and Paswan's faction is considered to be the party which gets Paswan votes. Paras has called a meeting of his party leaders on Friday to take a call on the next move. However, party leaders told ET that they would wait for the official announcement from BJP on the alliance.


Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has played a role in bringing Paras to the NDA camp. Now, by going with Paswan, BJP has given a message that the party is in control of the alliance, and will take decisions as per their equations.

JDU may get 16 seats while one seat each will be given to Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi. BJP will contest 17 seats out of 40 as it did in the 2019 elections.

"Everything has been talked about and all is well in Bihar," BJP general secretary in-charge Vinod Tawde told ET. "There is a possibility of exchange of seats among partners."