BJP Surges Ahead in Hajipur, Defying Paswan Legacy in Bihar Polls

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In a surprising twist, the BJP is leading in the Hajipur constituency, a seat traditionally associated with the late Ram Vilas Paswan's family. Despite the LJP's stronghold, the BJP fielded a candidate, Awadhesh Singh, who is currently ahead of RJD leader Dev Kumar Chaurasia in the ongoing Bihar assembly elections. The BJP's decision to contest Hajipur is notable, given that Chirag Paswan, the LJP leader, is part of the ruling NDA alliance. Paswan's party secured 29 seats under the NDA's seat-sharing arrangement, but Hajipur was not among them. Awadhesh Singh, a sitting MLA since 2015, has a history of winning in Hajipur. He defeated RJD's Chaurasia in the 2020 Assembly elections and won 49% votes in the previous elections. The BJP has held the Vidhan Sabha seat for several years, with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) also having a presence in the constituency. The NDA alliance, comprising the BJP, JD(U), LJP, and others, is contesting a total of 221 seats in the 243-member Assembly. The BJP, JD(U), and LJP are contesting 101, 101, and 29 seats, respectively. Chirag Paswan, the LJP leader, is a two-time Lok Sabha MP and son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan. He has been a prominent figure in Bihar politics and has been leading his party since 2019. Despite the LJP's lower seat share, the party has secured important seats, including Mahua and some constituencies in the Jamui and Khagaria districts. The Bihar assembly elections were held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results scheduled for November 14.