The loss of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan 20 days before the first round of polls for the Bihar assembly elections is likely to reverse the electoral math. Paswan, known as one of the toughest Dalit leaders in Bihar’s racial politics, has passed away at a time when Paswan’s son and LJP president Chirag Paswan has taken an aggressive approach without acknowledging Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership. The LJP has decided not to contest with the JDU in the Assembly elections. But Chirag has no issue with the BJP. But the leaders, who left the BJP, joined the LJP and awarded with a party ticket. The LJP has decided to contest 143 seats alone. Chirag played such a big political game just days before Ram Vilas Paswan’s death. He has not taken any decision against his father to pull out of the NDA alliance for contesting the Bihar elections independently. Before being hospitalized for critical health, Ram Vilas Paswan said he would support whatever decision Chirag made.
Now the question is that how and what extent the sudden demise of Ram Vilas Paswan will make an impact in the Bihar assembly election. According to some experts in Bihar politics, the election climate could change after Paswan’s death. The death of his father will help Chirag to make the LJP more powerful and active. As Paswan, a well-to-do Dalit leader in Bihar, the LJP is likely to get a favorable vote in this category of voters in the elections. In Bihar, 18 per cent of the total voters are Dalit.
However, at the grassroots level, Chirag Paswan has not been able to impress traditional LJP voters. Chirag has been portrayed as a modern, big city boy, a young English-speaking youth leader, who can attract young voters. Despite being a two-time MP, questions have been raised about Chirag’s acceptance in the village. It remains to be seen how far the ‘core oppressed’ voters will take him. In other words, Ram Vilas’s death has created both possibilities and challenges for Chirag and LJP. Chirag Paswan’s English slogan – “Bihar First, Bihari First”.
The demise of Ram Vilas Paswan has also created a different situation for the JDU and the BJP. The NDA, led by Nitish Kumar, was contesting the polls, but the BJP did not react to the LJP’s ouster. Even though the JDU has given up, the LJP is still at loggerheads with the BJP. It could be a political ploy by Chirag Paswan. But the BJP has also always dealt with Chirag cleverly. The biggest audacity is for Nitish’s JDU. Nitish Kumar’s contemporaries were Ram Vilas.
The LJP has been in the NDA with the JDU for many years. Following Ram Vilas’s death, JDU leaders will now be more careful in criticizing the LJP. While the LJP’s withdrawal from the NDA in the state will not affect the JDU that much, the JDU leaders have been adamant that Chirag’s aggressive approach has undoubtedly created a confusing situation for the party. And now Ram Vilas’s death is a source of concern for the JDU. This is because the death of the LJP founder could create a different equation in the upcoming elections.
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