Chirag Paswan’s “Chura-Dahi” Feast Scores a Perfect Attendance Strike; Who Turned Up from NDA and Mahagathbandhan?

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) national president Chirag Paswan hosted his annual Chura-Dahi (flattened rice and yogurt) feast this Makar Sankranti, and the event turned out to be a political spectacle in its own right. The attendance “strike rate” was impressive — those who were supposed to attend came, and those who weren’t inclined stayed away.

NDA Leaders Shine at the Feast
Among the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies, most prominent leaders, both at the national and state levels, were present. The event also highlighted Chirag Paswan’s growing stature in Bihar politics. Attendees included Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP executive president Nitin Nabin, state president Sanjay Sarawagi, former state minister Dilip Jaiswal, central ministers Nityanand Rai and Mangala Pandey, as well as JDU leaders Vijay Chaudhary and Maheshwar Hajari. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary was also seen enjoying the traditional delicacy, adding further prestige to the gathering.

Chirag Paswan, long seen as a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is now fostering closer ties with Nitish Kumar, signaling a consolidation of the “uncle-nephew” reconciliation into a solid political friendship.

Dalit Leaders Send Subtle Messages
Questions had circulated in political circles about how Dalit leaders would respond to the feast. While Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi did not attend personally, his son Santosh Suman, Bihar’s Minor Water Resources Minister, represented the family, signaling continued alignment with the NDA. BJP’s Lakhindra Paswan and JDU’s Maheshwar Hajari were also present, reinforcing the message of unity within the NDA among Dalit leaders.

Mahagathbandhan Leaders Keep Their Distance
On the other hand, the opposition’s “strike rate” was equally perfect. No major leaders from the Mahagathbandhan — including RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, VIP’s Mukesh Sahni, or leftist leader Deepankar — attended the feast. Congress leaders, too, stayed away, marking a complete absence of the rival alliance.

This Makar Sankranti feast, therefore, was more than a cultural celebration; it became a barometer of Bihar’s political alignments, showcasing Chirag Paswan’s growing influence and the NDA’s consolidated presence.