The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Chirag Paswan, the former president of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), has definitively closed the door on any potential reconciliation with his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras and cousin Prince Raj, citing them as the principal reasons for the split in the party established by his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. Currently leading the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Chirag expressed his resolve to move past a challenging period in his political career and contribute robustly to the NDA’s ambition of securing over 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with a clean sweep in Bihar.
Despite BJP leaders’ hopes for unification between the factions led by Chirag and the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party under Paras and Prince Raj, Chirag’s statements underscore a deep rift. He pointed to Paras’s role as the senior family member post-Ram Vilas Paswan’s death and his failure to maintain unity as a critical factor in the schism. Chirag highlighted the complexities of reconciliation, involving not just his stance but also the sentiments of his mother, sisters, and the broader party community, while noting Paras’s persistent rejection of such a possibility.
Amid speculation about internal arrangements within the LJP (Ram Vilas), particularly regarding Prince Raj and the potential candidacy of Chirag’s sister from Samastipur, Chirag categorically refuted such rumors. He clarified that the party’s candidates for the Lok Sabha seats, including Samastipur, would be announced shortly, dismissing any indirect reconciliation with Prince Raj.
The political landscape is further complicated by the movements of Prince Raj and sitting MPs Mehboob Ali Kaiser and Veena Devi, who initially sided with Paras but have recently signaled their allegiance to Chirag. Their recent actions and expressions of loyalty to Chirag, coupled with their desire to contest the elections under his banner, indicate ongoing shifts within the party dynamics.
As the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections approaches, with Jamui being a focal point, Chirag has announced Arun Bharti as the candidate for his former constituency, indicating a strategic shift and solidifying his leadership within the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). This period marks a crucial phase for Chirag as he endeavors to navigate the complex political terrain and cement his and his party’s position in the upcoming elections.