With Bihar’s election dates announced, focus has now shifted to the crucial stage of naming candidates. This time, the state’s electoral contest is again shaped by alliances rather than individual parties, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led Grand Alliance on one side and the NDA, led by Janata Dal United (JDU), on the other. However, seat-sharing within the NDA remains unresolved, prompting the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) [LJP(R)] to assert its bargaining power and press for a larger share.

As the founder's death anniversary approached, LJP(R) president and Union minister Chirag Paswan paid tribute to his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, reaffirming his commitment to the ‘Bihar First, Bihari First’ vision. Chirag Paswan declared on X that fulfilling his father's dream of comprehensive development for Bihar now represents his core mission, stating that every LJP(R) worker is ready to contest the elections with the objective of putting Bihar and Biharis first.

Amid the NDA’s internal deliberations, the LJP(R) has emphasized its electoral strength. Bihar LJP chief Ved Prakash Pandey underlined the party’s high strike rate, noting that the so-called ‘Chirag factor’ is a decisive influence in Bihar politics. Pandey highlighted that by contesting independently, the LJP(R) managed to secure over 6% of the vote across 137 seats and argued that, given a chance to contest all 243, support would have been even stronger. “We have the courage to fight alone,” he asserted, reiterating the party’s willingness to go solo, if required.

LJP(R) leaders present a narrative that resonates with Bihar’s youth, describing Chirag Paswan as the popular new face of Bihari politics and emphasizing unity beyond caste or religion. The party has linked this youth momentum to broader aspirations for progress, insisting, “Bihar will become Chiragmay (illumined by Chirag)!”

With seat-sharing still unresolved, reports indicate that the JDU and BJP may split nearly 200 seats between them, leaving other NDA partners—like LJP(R) and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM)—to negotiate over what remains. While LJP(R) initially demanded 40 seats, and HAM sought at least 20, neither has yet secured their preferred numbers. Frustration is mounting, with both parties pressing for not just assembly seats, but also representation in the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad, as well as specific constituencies where they believe their prospects are strongest.

In 2015, LJP received 43 seats as part of the NDA, but then the JDU was outside the alliance. Complications arose after JDU rejoined the NDA, leading to Chirag Paswan's decision to break away and contest alone in 2020—a move that cut into JDU’s base but left LJP(R) with only one assembly win. As negotiations intensify this cycle, Chirag Paswan’s assertion of independence is shaping both the alliance dynamics and broader poll narratives in Bihar.