India, July 27 -- The late Ramvilas Paswan, founder of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), used to be described as the weathervane of Indian politics. His political shifts reflected changes in voter preferences, it was said. Has Chirag Paswan, chief of Paswan's party and an important member of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), inherited his father's political intelligence as well, that he is sensing a rumble in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls and wants to stay clear of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar?

On Sunday, Chirag Paswan said, "I feel sad that I am supporting a government where crime has become rampant." He also added that "the administration has a hand in it, or it is trying to cover up these incidents, or it has become compl...