Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan met Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at his residence in Patna on Saturday. The meeting came at a time when suspense continues over who will become the next chief minister after the NDA’s landslide victory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
Chirag Paswan said he met Nitish Kumar to congratulate him on the NDA’s performance. He said the ruling alliance achieved a historic mandate, and the credit went to its leadership. “I met the CM, congratulated him and extended him best wishes. The NDA registered a historic victory under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. So, a delegation of LJP(RV) met him and congratulated him,” Chirag Paswan said after the meeting.
He added that Nitish Kumar praised the role of all alliance partners in the campaign. Paswan also criticised the Opposition for promoting “misleading” claims about tension between JD(U) and LJP(RV). “I am delighted that the CM appreciated the role of every alliance partner in the NDA… This shows that those people were misleading regarding JD(U) and LJP(RV) and were just setting a false narrative,” Paswan said.
Who Will Be the Next CM of Bihar?
The big question now is who will take the oath as the next Bihar chief minister. Nitish Kumar has held the post for most of the last two decades. JD(U) leaders insist he will continue.
JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak said, “No one other than Nitish Kumar will take oath. The Chief Minister will decide the date of the oath-taking ceremony.”
However, the BJP has emerged as the single-largest party in the Assembly. Many political analysts believe the BJP may push for its own CM candidate this time. Posters supporting Nitish Kumar have appeared across the state with slogans like “Tiger Zinda Hai” and “Hamre Bihar Ka Eke Star, Har Baar Nitish Kumar.”
Chirag Paswan: ‘Nitish Kumar Will Remain Bihar CM’
Before the final results were declared, Chirag Paswan said he believed Nitish Kumar would keep the position. “I firmly believe that Nitish Kumar will remain the Bihar chief minister… Arrogance is the cause for the opposition’s humiliating loss,” Paswan said.
He added that the NDA victory showed strong support for the “double-engine government” led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and Nitish Kumar in Bihar.
NDA Secures Historic Mandate
The NDA won 202 of the 243 seats, crossing the 200 mark for the second time in state history. The BJP won 89 seats, JD(U) 85, LJP(RV) 19, HAMS 5, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha 4. The Mahagathbandhan, meanwhile, managed only 35 seats, with the RJD winning 25.
BJP-JD(U) Power Balance Under Fresh Scrutiny
This election has shifted the power balance within the NDA. The BJP’s emergence as the largest party has renewed debate over whether leadership roles should reflect seat strength. Political observers say this could lead to new negotiations between the BJP and JD(U) even as both parties project unity. The final CM announcement will signal how the alliance plans to function for the next five years.
