Chirag Paswan Confirms Bihar Poll Bid

New Delhi, Saran: Putting an end to speculation, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader and Union minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday announced that he would contest the impending Bihar polls. The Lok Sabha MP from Hajipur also voiced his support for the introduction of the domicile policy in government jobs in Bihar, becoming the only NDA leader to do so.

Paswan, who holds the food processing industries portfolio in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, made the announcement while addressing a rally in Saran district.

"People have been asking me whether Chirag Paswan will contest the Assembly elections. I want to announce from Saran that yes, Chirag Paswan will contest the elections for the sake of a better future for Bihar... I will contest the election for the people of Bihar..." said Paswan, the son of the late Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

While addressing the Navsankalp Mahasabha in Chhapra, the Union minister said, "We will build a system in Bihar that will truly take the state forward on the path of development. I will realise the dreams of my father and work for 'Bihar first, Bihari first'. I will live and die for Bihar and its people."

Paswan also supported the demand for introducing a domicile policy for government jobs in the state. Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has promised implementation of "100 per cent domicile" if the Mahagathbandhan, helmed by his RJD, comes to power in the state after the elections.

"For the sake of the youth of Bihar, I am in support of the introduction of a domicile policy in government jobs. This has been a long-standing demand of job seekers," Paswan said. He added that the domicile policy was introduced in 2006, but it was withdrawn by the Opposition parties when they came to power and alleged that the RJD and the Congress never think about the betterment of the youth of the state.

"They (the RJD and the Congress) always mislead people. If they come to power, they will snatch over half of your wealth via inheritance tax," Paswan claimed.

The Nitish Kumar government has already ruled out the possibility of the introduction of a domicile policy, stating that any such move will be against the Constitution.

Attacking the RJD, Paswan alleged that the people talking about Bihar's development now are the ones who had ruined the state in the 1990s.