Union Minister Chirag Paswan has made it clear that his party is not willing to be a political bystander in Uttar Pradesh, even if its alliance ambitions do not materialise.

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Keeping a solo contest open, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief said the party could field candidates in all 403 Assembly constituencies if it fails to reach an alliance agreement.

Speaking in Varanasi on Thursday, November 5, Paswan said formal alliance talks had not yet begun.

While expressing hope that potential partners would reach a consensus, he stressed that his party was prepared to fight an independent electoral battle if negotiations failed.

‘If an alliance cannot be formed, then the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will likely field its own candidates for all 403 seats,’ Paswan said.

The minister also underlined that his party's alliance arrangements vary across states, pointing to its political experience in different electoral settings. He said the LJP (Ram Vilas) was part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre and in Bihar.

The party had also contested elections in Jharkhand as an alliance partner, where it currently has a legislator.

However, Paswan cited Nagaland as an example of the party's ability to contest independently. The LJP (Ram Vilas) has two MLAs in the northeastern state, where it fought without an alliance.

His remarks come as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, which will determine the composition of the state's 403-member legislature.

For Paswan, the immediate challenge is to expand his party's footprint beyond its traditional Bihar base while retaining its position within the BJP-led NDA.

The party has already been working to strengthen its organisational presence across Uttar Pradesh. Its Varanasi event, the 'Nav Sankalp Mahasabha', is part of this broader expansion exercise.

The gathering is being held at Jagatpur Inter College, where Paswan is expected to outline the party's political objectives and the broad contours of its proposed state manifesto.

However, the expansion could complicate the NDA's seat-sharing calculations.

The BJP already has several regional partners in Uttar Pradesh, including the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Apna Dal (Sone Lal), the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Nishad Party. With the LJP (Ram Vilas) also seeking electoral space, negotiations could become more challenging.

The issue has already exposed potential friction within the alliance. On Thursday, the SBSP signalled opposition to the entry of Bihar-based NDA allies into Uttar Pradesh, warning that it could reconsider its political options if its concerns were not addressed.

For Paswan, therefore, the 403-seat preparation serves two purposes: building an independent organisational base and strengthening his bargaining position in any eventual alliance negotiations.

Although the minister has reiterated his preference for an alliance, his latest statement leaves little doubt that the party wants to retain the freedom to chart its own electoral course.

Whether the LJP (Ram Vilas) eventually contests under the NDA umbrella or enters the fray independently will depend on the negotiations ahead.