Patna Businessman’s Killing Triggers War of Words in Bihar Politics

A political row has intensified in Bihar after the recent murder of a prominent businessman in Patna. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan blamed the Nitish Kumar-led state government for failing to curb crime, calling the incident further evidence of what he described as deteriorating law-and-order conditions. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav rejected Paswan’s criticism, asserting that the minister “has no ideology” and accusing him of supporting forces that undermine the Constitution. Yadav, who said he plans to take further action on 9 July, added that Paswan has achieved little for Bihar during his tenure in Parliament or the Union Cabinet. Separately, senior BJP figure Shahnawaz Hussain defended Paswan, stressing that the LJP(R) leader remains a “strong ally” of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the centre. Hussain added that the two parties had contested recent elections together and would continue to do so, signalling the BJP’s intent to shield Paswan from regional opposition attacks.