It was politically very charged Monday (July 17). The Ruling Bharat Janata Party (BJP) and the biggest Opposition party - Congress put their all efforts to show off the strength of their respective camps. Both sides tom-tommed about their numbers of allies. In Bengaluru, Congress was busy in receiving top Opposition leaders to brainstorm on strategy to fight BJP in Lok Sabha elections 2024, while in Delhi, the BJP displayed counter-action. BJP called a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting tomorrow - on the same day as the Opposition meeting. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda today. Later, BJP announced that he joined NDA. Paswan was in talks with the BJP for finalising his party's share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for the Lok Sabha 2024 and the meeting was seen as part of that exercise.
Decoding Chirag Paswan's strategy
His father Ram Vilas Paswan was one of three axes (Lalu Prasad Yadav-Nitish Kumar-Ram Vilas Paswan) of Bihar politics. The story of Bihar politics for almost three decades revolved around the trio - born from the JP movement. After Paswan's death in 2020, it was assumed that one pillar of Bihar politics collapsed but his son Chirag Paswan, somehow, successfully carried forward his father's legacy. His meeting with Shah the day ahead of NDA's mega show of strength is a testimony to the fact that Chirag is as relevant for Bihar politics as his late father. Senior Paswan was known as the weatherman of Indian politics for his shrewd political decisions. Likewise, Chirag shows his card timely and cleverly. Chirag surprised everyone with his decision to go solo in Bihar Assembly Elections while remaining in the alliance with BJP at the Centre. The unique setup in which his party was in NDA at the Centre but not in the state, played a key role in the election to damage Nitish Kumar's political career. He in several poll rallies claimed that he will not let Kumar get the CM post again. Though he failed to stop Kumar to be the CM again, he made considerable damage to Kumar's party- Janta Dal (United). JD-U was reduced to third place after the election which Chirag dubbed as a big victory. JD-U's seats decreased from 71 to 43 in 2020 elections. Chirag fielded candidates in 137 constituencies but skipped a fight against BJP by not pitting candidates against the saffron party's contenders. Post-elections, pollsters claimed that LJP hurt JD-U in almost 32 seats. However, LJP drew nill in the election. With a vote share of 5.66 per cent, Chirag's party reportedly worked as a 'B' team of the BJP.
'B'-team strategy
Chirag snapped the alliance with BJP but has never been critical of the saffron party. He indirectly ensured that BJP improved its tally in Bihar that's is why Chirag did not file his candidates against the saffron party in the assembly election. Even he provided backdoor support to BJP in by-polls. He did not field candidates in by-elections. Chirag had a role in the BJP's victory in Gopalganj constituency.
Outsmarted 'Chacha'
Chirag witnessed a coup inside the party led by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. Though the matter is in court, Chirag leads the fight against his uncle with the return to the NDA. His popularity has never seen a fall even after his father's death and revolt in the party. LJP supporters see him as the real successor of his father's political legacy. His rallies see massive participation compared to that of his uncle's. Even though Paras got the support of all other four MPs of the party besides Paswan, his nephew is seen to have largely succeeded in inheriting the support of the vote bank loyal to his father.
Road ahead for Paswan
Chirag Paswan has emphasised clarity from the BJP about his share of Lok Sabha and also assembly seats in Bihar before formalising their alliance. He also wants the BJP to concede to him the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, a pocket borough of his father for decades but currently represented by Paras in Parliament. His uncle has also staked claim to the seat, asserting that he and not Chirag is the late leader's political heir. The BJP has also been working to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024
LJP got a 7.86 per cent vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections winning 6 seats. Sources said Chirag again demanded all six seats in the meeting with top BJP leaders ahead of his joining NDA. After exiting Nitish's party from NDA, the alliance thinned and now Chirag's entry will boost NDA's position in certain pockets of Bihar. Chirag can be used as a Dalit poster-boy in the election campaigns for NDA.
