Union minister Chirag Paswan has made headlines by asserting he would rather resign than compromise on his principles. This bold declaration echoes his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. He made the statement during a Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) event focused on the SC/ST cell, reaffirming his commitment to the NDA as long as Narendra Modi is Prime Minister.
In his speech, Paswan cryptically said, “I will not hesitate to renounce (laat maar denge) my ministerial berth like my father did.” When journalists asked for clarification, he explained he was referring to his father’s experiences in the Congress-led UPA government.
“My father was a minister then. Many events harmed Dalits. Even pictures of Baba Saheb Ambedkar were not displayed at public events, which led us to part ways,” he elaborated.
Chirag has played a key role in persuading his father to realign with the BJP-led NDA ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Highlighting his support for Modi, Paswan praised the government’s sensitivity to Dalit issues. He pointed to the Centre’s positions on the creamy layer and lateral entry into the bureaucracy as positive developments.
However, sources from both the NDA and the INDIA bloc suggest there may be deeper motivations behind his remarks. Bringing up his father’s resignation might be more embarrassing for the BJP than for the Congress.
Ram Vilas Paswan famously resigned during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in protest against the 2002 Gujarat riots. After his resignation, he joined the UPA and served for five years.
In 2009, he lost his Lok Sabha seat and was dropped from the second Manmohan Singh ministry. Many viewed this as retaliation for his split from Congress.
Currently, Chirag Paswan is visiting flood-affected areas in Bihar to oversee relief efforts. This indicates his intent to broaden his political base. He seems to be distancing himself from both the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
This reconciliation comes after a period of opposition, suggesting a complex political landscape. There are also signs that Chirag is expressing dissatisfaction with the BJP‘s alliance with his uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras.
This split adds another layer to Paswan‘s political maneuvering as he navigates a challenging environment.
As Chirag Paswan asserts his independence and upholds his principles, the political dynamics in Bihar and beyond will be worth watching. His actions could redefine his political future and influence party strategies significantly.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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