BJP urges merger amidst uncle-nephew clash in Bihar's Lok Janshakti Party
New Delhi, July 17: The split within Bihar's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), previously a key player in reducing the influence of Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United (JDU) and strengthening the BJP's position, has become a headache for the BJP.
In an effort to prevent a division in the Paswan votes, the BJP has proposed a merger of the two factions under a single umbrella. However, Pashupati Nath Paras, the brother of late leader Ram Vilas Paswan and the current Minister of Food Processing Industries in the Central government, has rejected the idea.
After a discussion with Union Minister Nityanand Rai, Pashupati Paras stated that a merger between the factions led by himself and his nephew, Chirag Paswan, was not feasible. He metaphorically explained, "When things go wrong, when the milk curdles, no matter how hard you try, you get no butter." This response comes after the BJP's recent meeting with both factions to propose the merger.
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The BJP has invited Chirag Paswan to participate in a mega meeting with their allies on July 18. Pashupati Paras's faction has stated that they will not oppose Chirag Paswan's entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but they are not welcoming him either. Pashupati Paras mentioned that Chirag Paswan is no longer a partner of the NDA, emphasizing his isolation since the 2020 assembly elections.
The ongoing battle between uncle and nephew extends to the Hajipur seat, which holds significance as it was Ram Vilas Paswan's stronghold. In the 2019 elections, Pashupati Paras won from this seat, while Chirag Paswan emerged victorious from Jamui. Pashupati Paras, however, refuses to relinquish the seat to his nephew, questioning why Chirag Paswan was asked to contest from Jamui during their father's lifetime. He even accused Chirag Paswan of sympathizing with Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), raising doubts about his opposition to Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav.
As the elections draw nearer, various parties seek to expand their support base. The BJP's invitation to Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi for the meeting indicates their efforts to attract more members. The outcome of the meeting will determine the course of action in this ongoing political struggle within the LJP.
- With inputs from agencies
