In an interview with Hindustan Times, Paswan said the CM post is not vacant and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will lead the alliance in the elections.
“I’m not looking for any post or positioning myself as a future CM. There is absolutely no vacancy in 2025. My current chief minister (Nitish Kumar), under his leadership, we’re going to enter the elections and we will be having a historic win this time. So there’s no vacancy this time. And even for the future,” he said.
He is also not keen on becoming the deputy chief minister. “No, no, no, no, no, no. I mean a) I’m not aiming for any post and b) I’ll never be open to be a Deputy Chief Minister.”
On the question of contesting state polls, Paswan said his vision for Bihar cannot be achieved while being in Delhi. He added that the BJP has fielded sitting MPs and central ministers in the state polls and it has benefitted the party.
“I have expressed my wish that I want to go back to my state because this is my third term as a member of Parliament and over the past 11 years, I have realised that the kind of vision that I have for my state — Bihar first, Bihari first– is not possible (to achieve) living in Delhi,” he added.
In the last polls, Paswan was up against Nitish and also contested alone. But this time, both would be contesting under the NDA alliance. “The BJP worked as a beautiful catalyst between the two of us. Naddaji (BJP chief and Union minister JP Nadda) played a very, very important role. I remember when my Chief Minister came back to the alliance (in 2024) and we were going to Bihar for his oath-taking ceremony in his chartered plane, we spoke a lot and he assured me that all my concerns and issues will be addressed. And in due course of time, it was done as well.”
Paswan’s party has no presence in the current assembly. His party won all five seats it contested in the 2024 general elections. The crucial state elections are scheduled for November this year.
