NDA vs NDA? Chirag Paswan’s Ambitions Stir Unease in Nitish Kumar’s Camp Ahead of Bihar Polls

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As Bihar gears up for its 2025 assembly elections, a surprising twist has emerged within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) may face internal turbulence—not from the opposition, but from ally Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

Key Highlights From the Emerging Rift

- Chirag Paswan has announced his intent to contest all 243 assembly seats, raising eyebrows within the JD(U)
- Though part of the NDA, Paswan’s aggressive positioning echoes his 2020 strategy, where LJP fielded candidates against JD(U), cutting into its vote share
- In 2020, JD(U)’s tally dropped to 43 seats from 71 in 2015, while BJP surged ahead with 74 seats, becoming the senior partner
- JD(U) leaders had previously accused Paswan of acting as a BJP proxy to weaken Nitish Kumar’s influence

Current Dynamics and Political Signals

- Despite being in the NDA fold, Paswan continues to criticize Nitish Kumar’s governance, recently citing law and order failures in Nalanda
- His party is conducting surveys to assess whether he should personally contest, adding to speculation about his leadership ambitions
- The BJP has yet to clarify its stance on seat-sharing and chief ministerial face, fueling uncertainty within the alliance

Strategic Implications

The possibility of NDA allies competing against each other could fracture vote banks and complicate campaign messaging. Nitish Kumar’s path to a record tenth term may hinge not just on opposition strength, but on managing intra-alliance ambitions.

Sources: MSN India, Times Now, The New Indian Express, LiveMint, India Today, CNBC TV18, News18, Frontline India, ABP Live