Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has already launched his campaign for the Bihar Assembly elections slated for October-November this year. In an interview with The Indian Express, Chirag speaks on a range of issues related to the Bihar polls including the raging row over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission (EC) in the state. Excerpts:
*There are various criticisms against the SIR in Bihar – the short duration given for the exercise, the number of documents sought as citizenship proof. This has caused problems for people cutting across the caste and regional lines. What’s your take?
The criticism, I believe, is politically-motivated. It’s the Opposition that has been crying after every election that the voter list is inaccurate, there are duplication and that there are names wrongly added. They have made these complaints repeatedly. And when the EC is trying to rectify it, you have a problem.
I admit that availability of these documents in the rural as well as urban areas of Bihar might be an issue. But that’s why the political parties are there. The Opposition is creating a false narrative here and they are not making their karyakartas to go to the houses to help the voters at the booth level. We have Booth Level Agents (BLAs) who help voters and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Of course, they (BLAs) are not in big numbers, but they are coordinating between BLOs and voters.
*But the number of documents a voter needs for the SIR is too many?
Options have also been provided. It’s been divided at many levels before and after 2003. The fact is that somewhere we have to start this process.
*But Aadhaar or ration cards are not being accepted? And will the timeframe be extended?
Aadhaar card is not accepted because the place of birth is not identified in it. But there are options and if you do not have any of them, the local administration will help you.
I do not know if the time will be extended. Eventually the EC will take a call on that. But since we are heading for elections in October, I do not know how much can be extended.
*But do you think the SIR is like the “NRC (National Register of Citizens) through backdoor” as being charged by the Opposition?
They (Opposition) have a problem with anything and everything that the central government does. They do not believe in any constitutional posts. Of course, it’s not NRC. It’s a process that has been done on a regular basis, maybe not so extensively. The process of sanitisation needs to start somewhere at some point.
We had concerns over the NRC. My party under the leadership of my father (late Ram Vilas Paswan) had a detailed meeting with the Home Minister and clarity was given to us. Our concern was about the people who do not have any documents. We were eventually assured that they will be given a chance to go through an appeal and there will be support for them. Anyway, I do not think that it’s NRC through backdoor and they (Opposition) are trying to create a false narrative.
The question remains, if you are fine with people living in our country without proper documents or people about whom you don’t know whether they belong to this country. Are you okay with ghuspaithiye (infiltrators) living among us? A process of sanitisation and a thorough combing need to be done.
*You have recently commented on the law and order issue in Bihar – there have recently been killings in the state, the murders of a businessman and two youngsters.
Of course, incidents like these definitely shake you up. On a regular basis we are seeing some one or other getting murdered in rural parts of Bihar. Law and order becomes a concern, especially this being a forte of our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ji. I believe there is some kind of conspiracy happening against him. I am sure he has the ability to get things under control. There have been some arrests too. But it’s a matter of serious concern.
*Your alliance is with a party (BJP) about which Muslims have apprehensions. But your party has always reached out to the Muslim community to seek their support.
Of course, we and JD(U) have been getting the support of Muslims. I do not know if you believe this, but a certain chunk of Muslims have started voting for the BJP as well. They believe that the initiatives like the anti-triple talaq law and the Waqf legislation were taken keeping the interests of poor Muslims in mind. Pasmanda Muslims and a major chunk of Muslim women have started supporting the BJP.
I do not think that our inclusion in NDA has caused an erosion in our Muslim support base. My father always wanted a Muslim CM in Bihar. They know our commitment to the community. We are like their pehredars (guards) in every government.
*How comfortable are you in the NDA alliance?
It’s been 11 years since we became an NDA partner. In between, for a short while, I opted out of the alliance but I was very much part of it. My Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is on a different level. I love him a lot. He was always there whenever I needed. I am extremely comfortable.
*In Bihar, the Opposition is invoking Bihar pride, alleging that the next NDA government would be a proxy Delhi government.
It’s a false narrative they want to create. We will be heading in for an election under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. When you have a strong leader like Nitish Kumar ji, a proxy can never work.
*Tell us about your plans – are you eyeing the CM’s post or the Deputy CM’s position? Is the LJP(RV) trying to occupy the space occupied currently by Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)?
There is no vacancy for the post of chief minister in Bihar. Of course, I want to go back to my state. The whole purpose of my coming to politics is Bihar and its people. I was born and brought up in Delhi and I worked in Mumbai. I have seen how Biharis are forced to live in poor conditions in other states where they go to work. I used to think why Biharis have to go out of their states to work and why can’t we have a good infrastructure in our state.
Being a third-time MP, I realised you cannot do much sitting in Delhi. If you really want to do something for your state, you have to go back to the state. With that intention I have told my party that I want to contest the Assembly polls. The party has to decide… It needs to analyse whether it is good for the party. It happens when a senior leader contests, the whole ecosystem gets involved and ignores other constituencies. That’s what we are evaluating.
I would love to contest the Assembly elections. I have no intention to become the Deputy CM. But of course after the elections, I would like to have one of my karyakartas representing the state as Deputy CM.
*You mentioned about Bihar not having good infrastructure. But Nitish-led NDA has been in power in the state for more than a decade. Who do you blame for it then?
The government has failed because there was no double-engine sarkar. We have seen Uttar Pradesh performing so well under the NDA. Irony with my state is that for the longest time we have had – almost 27 years – there were different governments at the Centre and the state. During UPA (rule at the Centre), there was an NDA government in Bihar. After 2014 (when NDA was in power at the Centre), there was Mahagathbandhan government in the state. They were not on the same page. The central schemes were not implemented properly at the state level and the state schemes did not get the central support. Now, after the (2024) Lok Sabha elections, we have seen how the state is on a rapid growth path. Big schemes are getting implemented. Our PM has visited the state seven times after the elections, he will soon visit again.
*What’s your view on the allegations made by some Opposition and regional parties that the BJP is trying to impose Hindi? What’s your view on the language controversy?
I do not know why there should be a controversy. I believe that the beauty of our country is that we have so many languages, all languages should be given an equal opportunity to grow together. The problem starts when you force a particular person living in one state to start speaking in one language. Why are you forcing me? If I respect your language, you respect mine… Some think your identity gets diluted if you talk in another Indian language. But you are fine if you speak in a foreign language. I don’t know why. It becomes nasty if every state starts forcing it.
*There has to be one link language?
Let it be an Indian language. If you travel abroad you will realise that they take pride in their native language.
*You think Hindi is that language?
No, why only Hindi. Let it be Tamil or Marathi. I think the Centre is going to ensure that the communication with the states would be in their language soon.
*Several political observers have noted the rise of your brothers-in-law in your party, such as Arun Bharti, Dhananjay alias Mrinal Paswan and Anil alias Sadhu Paswan.
What do I say about it when I cannot shy away from the fact that they are my relatives. But because they are relatives, they cannot be denied a chance to prove themselves despite their contribution to the party. Eventually, everything boils down to your potential and capability. If you do not have the potential, it does not matter whose son or daughter or brother or sister you are.
*It seems you want to expand the reach of your party beyond its core Paswan base. What’s your strategy for it?
If you look at my rallies, its gatherings, you will not see a certain kind of crowd. Youngsters across caste lines come there. I believe I have broken the caste barrier. I do not talk about just Dalits or upper castes. I talk about Biharis and Bihari pride. For Bihar first and for Bihari first. I want to see that the gap between the rich and the poor is reduced.
*What’s your equation with Tejashwi Yadav? How do you see him as a young leader?
He (Tejashwi) is doing his bit. I do not think a lot of what he does is correct. He follows the same old style of politics, the caste-based system and the whole ideology behind the MY (Muslim Yadav) samikaran. I don’t believe in it. I have MY samikaran but M is Mahila and Y is youth for me. That’s the kind of samikaran I want to talk about. I do not believe his ideology, his style of politics. I think it’s extremely conservative, old-fashioned. And you need to think out of box if you want our state to go ahead. I have a vision for Bihar and its people. He does not have any vision to take the state forward, he does not have a roadmap. I don’t believe in his style of working, but, well, our state has space for both of us and (provides) options to the public to decide.
*Even after two decades, the NDA still wants to go to the polls under Nitish’s leadership. Why do you think it has still not been able to project another leader despite his apparent health issues?
We need to understand where Nitish Kumar ji is coming from. We are asked why we need to speak about “jungle raj” repeatedly. But it needs to be told, especially to the first-time voters who were born during Nitish ji’s tenure. Because they have no idea how Bihar was in the 1990s. He has brought out the state from a scenario so bad, when people were forced to leave the state. Somebody like him only can lead the state as of now. The concerns over his health are just created by the Opposition.