Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday launched a pointed attack on the INDIA bloc and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), as political temperature around the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) elections rose sharply in Patna. Paswan questioned the opposition coalition's ideological coherence and criticised the RJD's top leadership for skipping nomination proceedings.

INDIA Bloc 'Built on Compulsion, Not Conviction'

Paswan described the opposition alliance as a product of political necessity rather than shared principles. He alleged that the coalition was formed primarily to mask individual weaknesses and accommodate mutual interests among member parties.

Referring to reported tensions within the bloc — particularly involving the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) — Paswan claimed the Indian National Congress had failed to retain the trust of several long-standing allies. He argued that Congress's single-minded pursuit of power had created a trust deficit among regional partners.

Notably, Paswan expressed surprise at the presence of leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, in joint opposition meetings — given that senior Congress figures, including Rahul Gandhi, had previously been sharply critical of her. He remarked that the alliance had become a platform for political accommodation rather than principled opposition.

Bihar MLC Polls: Paswan Calls Party's Council Presence 'Historic'

Turning to the Bihar Legislative Council elections, Paswan described his party's expanding representation in the Upper House as a historic achievement, crediting the support of the party's MLAs for making it possible.

He praised party candidate Ashraf Ansari, noting that Ansari had been a long-time associate of the late Ram Vilas Paswan and had remained loyal to the organisation without seeking personal gain or political office. Paswan said fielding such a dedicated worker was a matter of pride for the party.

On Rabri Devi's Security Cover

Addressing former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi's decision to return her security cover, Paswan urged that security matters not be politicised. He stated that security arrangements are periodically reviewed by the concerned agencies on the basis of threat assessments, and that such revisions should be seen as administrative rather than political decisions. He added that his own security cover had been revised on multiple occasions.

RJD Leadership Absent at Nomination Filing

Paswan also took aim at RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav for their absence during the filing of nomination papers for the Legislative Council elections. He said the non-appearance of the party's top leadership reflected a lack of seriousness, and argued that leaders owe it to their candidates — and to the office being contested — to demonstrate visible commitment.

With Bihar's political landscape heating up ahead of the MLC polls, the exchanges between the ruling alliance and the opposition are likely to sharpen further in the days ahead.