Janhit: NDA Rift Deepens as LJP(R) Projects Chirag Paswan as CM Candidate | ABP NEWS

As Bihar gears up for its assembly elections, the battle over the Chief Ministerial face is heating up across both NDA and the Mahagathbandhan camps. In a fresh jolt to NDA unity, Chirag Paswan’s LJP(R) reignited the face-off by projecting him as a potential CM candidate. His brother-in-law Arun Bharti openly declared Chirag as the rightful leader to take Bihar forward, creating discomfort within the alliance, especially for current CM Nitish Kumar. This comes just days after reports of LJP(R) receiving 20 seats in the NDA seat-sharing arrangement. While BJP leaders have tried to project unity by reaffirming Nitish Kumar as the alliance’s face, repeated conflicting statements from LJP(R) indicate underlying friction. On the Mahagathbandhan side, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav pushed his own name forward in Rahul Gandhi’s presence, despite no formal endorsement from the Congress. Meanwhile, political strongman Anant Singh, recently acquitted by the court, is back in the limelight. After five previous wins from Mokama, he now eyes a return, possibly on a JD(U) ticket. His warm interactions with Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh suggest a growing acceptance within NDA ranks. However, cracks within the NDA continue to show. In recent alliance meetings, clashes between local supporters in places like Shivhar, Muzaffarpur, and Rohtas point to growing internal rivalries and confusion over candidate selection. As Bihar’s political battlefield heats up, the leadership tussle within alliances might shape the election narrative as much as the issues on the ground.