Pashupati Paras Gears Up for Bankipur: RLJP Stakes Claim to Reclaim Political Turf

The Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party has announced its intent to contest the upcoming Bankipur bypoll, marking a strategic attempt by Pashupati Kumar Paras to revive his political influence.

The dust in Patna’s political corridors is yet to settle, and the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) has already signaled its next move. During a recent event held at the party’s state office to mark the birth anniversary of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, acting national president Prince Paswan declared that the party will field a candidate in the impending Bankipur assembly by-election. This announcement is more than just a routine electoral participation; it is a calculated effort by Pashupati Kumar Paras to assert his relevance in a landscape currently dominated by his nephew, Chirag Paswan.

The Strategy Behind the Move

For Pashupati Paras, the Bankipur bypoll serves as a critical litmus test. Since the bitter split of the Lok Janshakti Party in 2021, the uncle-nephew duo has been locked in a high-stakes battle over the legacy of the late Dalit icon, Ram Vilas Paswan. While Chirag Paswan has consolidated his position as a central minister and a core member of the NDA, Paras has found himself on the sidelines, struggling to maintain his grip on the party’s traditional voter base. By throwing his hat into the ring in a key urban seat like Bankipur, Paras is clearly aiming to demonstrate that his faction remains a functional, fighting force.

During the same event, the party leadership pivoted toward wider state issues to frame their narrative. Prince Paswan launched a sharp attack on the Bihar administration, specifically highlighting the recent ‘Bharat Tiwari encounter.’ By demanding a high-level inquiry into the incident and criticizing the state’s handling of law and order, the RLJP is attempting to position itself as a vocal champion for the marginalized and the aggrieved. This dual strategy—contesting elections while aggressively questioning governance—is a classic attempt to recapture the political imagination of their traditional, predominantly Dalit, support base.

Why It Matters

This development is a significant ripple in the broader pond of state politics. The internal friction within the LJP family has long been a subject of intense speculation, and with the RLJP pushing to contest the Bankipur seat, the pressure on the NDA’s internal seat-sharing dynamics will only increase. If Paras manages to put up a strong show, it could complicate calculations for the ruling coalition, which must now balance the conflicting ambitions of two branches of the same political lineage.

Furthermore, the demand for a 'Bharat Ratna' for Ram Vilas Paswan—reiterated by Paras at the event—is a reminder of the emotional capital the party is trying to leverage. By linking this demand to the late leader's lifelong commitment to the shoshit (deprived) and dalit sections, the RLJP is trying to reclaim the narrative that the Paswan legacy belongs to those who uphold his original mission. Whether this translates into electoral success remains to be seen, but the intent to disrupt is clear. For observers of local Bihar politics, this is a signal that the fight for the legacy of Ram Vilas Paswan is far from over.