From How Many To Who: Chirag Paswan's Tough Week

Patna: For Chirag Paswan, a recasting from Bollywood hero to politics is proving trickier than the son of a major political leader might reasonably expect.

Mr Paswan, 32, starred in a film four years ago, before being appointed the Chairman of the Parliamentary Board of the Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP), founded in 2000 by his father Ram Vilas Paswan. He's now taken charge of the Bihar election that begins next month.

Today, Mr Paswan announced 12 candidates - his uncle and a first cousin are included. His party was assigned a total of 40 seats by the BJP, which has teamed with three regional players including the LJP. Mr Paswan earlier this week said that he was "shocked" by the economical portion for his party, but said his party remains committed to the alliance.

The composure he stressed while publicly filing his complaint is being tested anew. Last week, Rama Singh, an influential LJP leader, resigned from all party posts to protest his exclusion from negotiations with the BJP. Now, Veena Devi, one of the party's six parliamentarians, is voicing her dissent. Her husband, Surajbhan Singh, was convicted for murder and cannot run for office, but remains powerful in the area of Munger in North Bihar.

"What is the use of senior leaders like my husband and me if we are not consulted in the seat-selection process? Its seems the LJP has been reduced to just one family and one person," she said to NDTV in a phone conversation on Thursday. She was less aggressive in interviews today, telling news agency ANI, "This party is my family."

Surajbhan Singh has clout in the Bhumihars, an upper caste group that's traditionally backed the BJP and more recently, its allies, in Bihar. If his wife and he are not placated, they could do considerable damage for the LJP. The Paswans draw their power from scheduled castes across the state; groups like the Bhumihars greatly expand that base.  

Mr Paswan did not contest last year's parliamentary election from Bihar. Within the LJP, there are complaints of a dynastic takeover. Those who support the young politician say that he has rebooted the party, and compliment him for astutely egging his father to tie up with the BJP ahead of last year's national election.
 Mr Paswan, who is a bachelor, says he hasn't written off his acting career yet, which may explain why he slots much of his down time on working out. Yoga is also a hobby, he says. Perhaps it will offer him some calm from the building stress of an election in progress.