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regular-article-logo Thursday, 02 May 2024
Day after 'coup', rebel MPs elect uncle

Chirag Paswan removed as Lok Janshakti Party Chief

Move comes day after 5 MPs joined hands to elect Pashupati Kumar Paras in his place

Our Bureau, Agencies New Delhi Published 15.06.21, 04:14 PM
Chirag Paswan.

Chirag Paswan. File picture

The Lok Janshakti Party on Tuesday removed Chirag Paswan as the party president, a day after five of the six MPs joined hands to elect Pashupati Kumar Paras, the youngest brother of Paswan's late father and party founder Ram Vilas Paswan, in his place, causing a big churn in Bihar politics.

The LJP faction headed by Chirag expelled the five MPs of the party who had rebelled against him.

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While Chirag Paswan has been isolated in the parliamentary party as all other MPs beside him have backed Paras, sources said he continues to draw support from other leaders in the organisation.

The matter is now likely to reach the Election Commission as both factions have claimed to represent the party.

Chirag was ousted on basis of the "One Man, One Post", said the rebel MPs, who have chosen Suraj Bhan as the new working president and election officer of the LJP, according to a report by ndtv.com.

Bhan has been asked to conduct an election for the new president within five days by calling the party's national executive, the report added.

In his first reaction after his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras ousted him Chirag likened the organisation to a mother who should not be "betrayed".

In a tweet, he said he made efforts to keep the party founded by his father Ram Vilas Paswan and his family together but failed.

People are supreme in a democracy, Paswan said and thanked those who have kept faith in the party.

Chirag also shared a letter he had written to Paras, the youngest brother of his father, in March in which he had highlighted his uncle's unhappiness over a number of issues, including his elevation as the party president.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Monday evening recognised Paras as the leader of the LJP in the House, a day after the five MPs informed Speaker Om Birla about their decision.

Paras lauded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a good leader and "vikas purush" (development-oriented man), highlighting the deep fault lines within the party as his nephew has been a strong critic of the supreme JD(U) leader.

"I have not broken the party but saved it," Paras, the MP from Hajipur, told reporters.

He asserted that 99 per cent of LJP workers were unhappy with the turn of events in Bihar as Chirag led his party against the JD(U) and it fared poorly in the 2020 assembly polls.

The LJP has been on the brink of collapse, he said in reference to its poor show in the polls, and lashed out at "anti-social" elements in the party, an apparent pointer to a close aide of Chirag whose proximity to him has not gone down well with many party leaders.

Paras said his group will continue to be part of the BJP-led NDA, and added that Chirag can remain in the organisation.

There has been no comment from Chirag on the development in his party.

Soon after Paras spoke to reporters, Chirag drove to his uncle's residence in the national capital to meet him. Chirag's cousin and MP Prince Raj also stays there.

Chirag, who has not been keeping well for some time, waited for over 20 minutes in his car before he was let into the house and then left after spending more than an hour inside.

He left without saying a word to waiting media persons.

Paras had long been unhappy with Chirag's style of functioning and was joined by other MPs, including Chandan Singh, Veena Devi and Mehboob Ali Kaiser, as they believed that his campaign against Nitish Kumar had left them at a disadvantage in the state's politics.

Kaiser has been elected the party's deputy leader.

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