Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has cemented his status as the "real" political heir of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, with his induction into the Narendra Modi government on Sunday.
This marks a remarkable comeback in Bihar's volatile political landscape.
Chirag's meteoric rise was marked by winning all five Lok Sabha seats allocated to the party in the NDA alliance in the recent elections, maintaining the party's 100 per cent strike rate.
This sensational success has catapulted him to the forefront as the new Dalit icon in Bihar politics, overshadowing many seasoned politicians.
In stark contrast, the 2019 elections had seen the LJP, under Ram Vilas Paswan’s leadership, sweep all six seats allotted to the party.
The drama intensified in June 2021, when Chirag’s uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras, orchestrated a midnight coup, ousting Chirag from key party positions and claiming a spot in Modi's cabinet.
Chirag was left in the political wilderness, struggling to reclaim his footing.
The real twist came in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The BJP, recognising Chirag’s resilience and popular support, entrusted him with five crucial seats under the seat-sharing agreement, leaving the Paras faction with none, despite its backing from four MPs.
Against all odds, LJP (RV) fielded candidates in Hajipur, Vaishali, Samastipur, Khagaria, and Jamui.
Chirag’s victory, achieved without his father's guidance, stands as an example to his tenacity.
He has vowed to realise his father's vision and champion the ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’ agenda, aiming to transform the state.
Chirag, defying all predictions of his political demise, has silenced his critics.
His leadership was solidified when he was elected as the LJP (RV) Parliamentary Party leader in a dramatic meeting at his Delhi residence on Friday.
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