Crash in LJP, nephew v. Uncle: Party President Chirag Paswan fell alone

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

Pashupati Kumar Paras, uncle of party president Chirag Paswan and younger brother of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder Ram Vilas Paswan, has finally revolted against the party and got the support of four party MPs. Four LJP MPs have chosen Pashupati Kumar Paras instead of Chirag Paswan as the LJP's leader in the Lok Sabha, which has caused a stir in Bihar politics and left Chirag Paswan alone in the party.

Within eight months of Ram Vilas Paswan's death, the party was on the verge of breaking up. There are six LJP MPs in the Lok Sabha, including Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Kumar Paras, out of which five MPs, including Paras, have written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting him to recognize them as a separate party. Ram Vilas Paswan's youngest brother and LJP MP Pashupati Kumar Parse on Monday praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling him a "development man" and saying he was, is and will be with the NDA. "I have not broken the party, but I am defending it," he said in response to allegations of breaking the LJP.

"Our party has six MPs in the Lok Sabha," he said. Five MPs, including me, wanted the party to be saved as it was coming to an end and was being marginalized in Bihar politics. He added that he has no complaints with Chirag Paswan. He is my nephew. He has no objection to her staying in the party.

"I am unfortunate that both my brothers left me," said Pashupati Kumar Parse, an LJP MP from Hajipur in Bihar. I miss them. 4% of party workers, MPs, MLAs and supporters wanted us to be part of the NDA in 2014 and this time too to be part of the NDA in the Assembly elections. The party was currently disbanding. Some anti-social elements infiltrated our party and broke the alliance by ignoring the sentiments of 5% of the workers.

JD (U) is rumored to be behind the revolt in the LJP. According to sources, Nitish Kumar has avenged the damage done to him by Chirag Paswan in the Assembly elections by splitting the LJP. Nitish Kumar had included the LJP's only MLA in the assembly in the JDU after the LJP's poor showing in the Assembly elections while the LJP's only MLC had joined the BJP.

Nitish Kumar had handed over the responsibility of sabotaging the parliamentary party to his special confidant Lalan Singh. After the revolt of Kaka Pashupati Kumar Paras, Chirag Paswan, the national president of LJP, reached his residence to meet Kaka Paras, but after waiting for almost two and a half hours, he had to return without meeting Kaka.