At a media interaction on Friday, Union minister and LJP(RV) president Chirag Paswan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring two berths for the party in the newly formed Bihar cabinet but clarified that he had no intention of appearing overly ambitious.
“I don’t wish to be seen as greedy by demanding the deputy CM’s post,” he said, as reported by news agency PTI. He said hat the mandate was an opportunity to intensify work “at a war footing” for a “developed Bihar,” promising that efforts would begin immediately “in making Bihar first and Biharis first.”
Paswan also laid out plans to extend the party’s reach beyond its home state. According to him, the LJP(RV) was “seriously preparing” to broaden its organisational footprint in states scheduled for upcoming elections.
He said the party intended to contest polls in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab “as part of the NDA,” arguing that the results in Bihar had energised the organisation to scale up its presence nationally.
The Hajipur MP described the induction of two legislators from his party into the Bihar cabinet as a moment that fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan.
Speaking to reporters in Patna on Thursday, he said, “Today is a day to remember Ram Vilas Paswan ji and to work towards developing Bihar,” adding that his father would have been “the happiest, because of the heights at which he wanted to see our party.”
The LJP(RV), which secured 19 seats in the recent assembly polls, saw Sanjay Kumar and Sanjay Kumar Singh take oath as ministers. Calling this a “major victory,” Paswan noted that the electoral mandate placed “big responsibilities” on the party.
He said, “I believe that big victories also bring big responsibilities. I am fully aware of those responsibilities,” and declared that “Bihar’s golden era begins now.”
The new Bihar government, led by JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, assumed office at a swearing-in ceremony at Gandhi Maidan on Thursday. Altogether, 27 ministers, including the chief minister, were administered the oath of office.
Kumar, taking charge as chief minister for the tenth time, heads an NDA coalition that returned with 202 seats in the 243-member assembly.
The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, followed by the JD(U) at 85. Among smaller allies, the LJP(RV) bagged 19 seats, HAM-S secured 5 and the RLM picked up 4.
With inputs from PTI
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