Delhi Media’s ‘Chirag Paswan Obsession’ Misreads Bihar’s Politics

Despite limited grassroots influence, Chirag Paswan garners disproportionate attention from national media ahead of Bihar Assembly polls.

By MANISH ANAND

NEW DELHI, June 11, 2025 – Union Minister Chirag Paswan has emerged as the favourite Bihar politician for Delhi-based media as they warm up for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. A section of the media in Delhi has even bought into Chirag Paswan’s script that he could be the Chief Minister of Bihar.

Chirag Paswan, along with Prashant Kishor—the election strategist turned politician—arguably commands disproportionate media attention in New Delhi. However, the political clout of both politicians in Bihar remains questionable.

Political observers believe that Chirag Paswan acted at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, as his actions torpedoed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United). These observations gained credence because several BJP functionaries contested the elections on Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ticket.

“In the 2020 Bihar polls, the BJP had flung Chirag Paswan atop the political tree. What can the BJP do if he refuses to climb down?” remarked a senior BJP functionary while discussing Chirag Paswan’s plan to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Chirag Paswan’s LJP wasn’t part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2020. His party, now called LJP (Ram Vilas), is currently a part of the NDA.

“Chirag Paswan’s following in Bihar may be hidden to people in Delhi. He’s largely unknown beyond four or five districts in Bihar. Why would the BJP bet on him?” asked a senior BJP functionary from Patna.

He added that Chirag Paswan faces a serious challenge in protecting the political turf built by his father and former Union Minister, the late Ram Vilas Paswan. Chirag’s uncle and former Union Minister, Pashupati Kumar Paras, is now working in the Opposition camp.

Bihar-based journalists point out that Delhi media fall for leaders like Chirag Paswan and Prashant Kishor because of their apparent “elitism.” “Meeting political leaders in Bihar who actually command mass followings requires effort,” commented a Patna-based journalist on “Delhi media’s extra interest in Chirag Paswan.”

The late Ram Vilas Paswan had earlier launched Chirag Paswan in Bollywood. His film, Miley Na Miley Hum (2011), was even screened in the Parliament complex for MPs to watch, but flopped at the box office. His father did not waste further resources on Chirag’s acting career and instead launched him into politics.

Bihar’s political observers maintain that Chirag Paswan remains a BJP auxiliary. “Even within the Paswan community—which is among the most dominant Dalit groups in Bihar—Chirag Paswan faces many challengers. This was evident when he couldn’t help the BJP win the Sasaram Lok Sabha seat in 2024, despite the significant Paswan population there,” noted a senior Patna-based journalist.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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