The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar finds itself grappling with internal turbulence once again, as old political rivalries between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Paswan family have resurfaced ahead of the upcoming elections. What began as subtle discontent over seat-sharing and candidate selection has now flared into open friction, threatening to disrupt the alliance’s unity and strategy in the state.
At the heart of the latest discord lies the long-standing rivalry between Nitish Kumar, the Janata Dal (United) chief, and the late Ram Vilas Paswan’s political legacy, now carried forward by his son and Union Minister, Chirag Paswan. Despite being part of the same NDA umbrella, both leaders have often been at odds over leadership style, caste equations, and political dominance in Bihar’s power matrix.
Chirag Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the JD(U)’s attempts to assert greater control over ticket distribution in key constituencies where the Paswan community wields considerable influence. JD(U), on the other hand, maintains that seat allocations should reflect ground realities and the relative strength of alliance partners.
Insiders say that several backchannel talks between BJP mediators and the two leaders have failed to produce a consensus so far. While the BJP has attempted to maintain neutrality, it is also wary of alienating either faction, given that both Nitish and Chirag hold substantial sway over different voter bases — the former among Kurmis and OBCs, and the latter among Dalits and youth.
The friction has revived memories of the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, when Chirag Paswan’s decision to go solo — fielding candidates against JD(U) while supporting the BJP — severely weakened Nitish Kumar’s position. Though the JD(U) eventually returned to power, the scars of that political battle never truly healed.
This time, the tension appears to be simmering beneath the surface but is unmistakably present. Public remarks from both camps have grown increasingly sharp, with Chirag hinting at “self-respect” politics and Nitish’s associates accusing the younger leader of playing to the gallery for political gain.
Observers believe that the renewed confrontation could have wider implications for the NDA’s prospects in Bihar, especially as opposition forces — including the RJD-led alliance — look to exploit the internal cracks. Bihar’s voters, known for their political awareness, have often responded sensitively to alliance instability, making the current discord a potential game-changer if not swiftly contained.
For the BJP, which anchors the NDA at the national level, the challenge will be to prevent the conflict from escalating further. The party’s leadership in Delhi is reportedly considering a high-level intervention to ensure coordination and discipline among partners before the campaign season intensifies.
As Bihar gears up for another fiercely contested political battle, the NDA’s internal firefights could determine whether the coalition marches forward united or stumbles under the weight of its own contradictions. What remains clear is that the old Nitish-Paswan rivalry, once thought to be buried, has returned to test the alliance’s resilience at a critical juncture.
