Patna, The 24th foundation day celebration of the erstwhile Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) unfolded as a spectacle of political rivalry between two factions led by Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan, respectively. The event, which marked a show of strength between the uncle and nephew, took place in two different venues.
Chirag Paswan, heading the LJP (Ram Vilas), hosted his function at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna. Simultaneously, Union Minister Paras, who is also the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), organized a function at Akshayawat Rai stadium in Hajipur, the home constituency of late Ram Vilas Paswan, who founded the LJP on this day in 2000.
Despite drawing impressive crowds, both leaders utilized the platform to target each other in their speeches. The occasion became a platform for claims of being the “real political heir” of late Paswan. Chirag Paswan, recounting the events leading to the split in the LJP, alleged a high-level conspiracy to eliminate him politically, involving people from within his own circle.
While addressing the crowd, Chirag Paswan asserted, “A big conspiracy was hatched at a top level to politically eliminate me, and my own people were a part of the conspiracy. But I didn’t lose patience, and see the strength of our party today.” He urged his supporters to stay united and prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
In Hajipur, Union Minister Paras detailed how late Paswan entrusted his “home seat” to him, emphasizing the trust Paswan had in him over even his own wife and son. Paras thanked the masses for their substantial attendance and discussed schemes launched by the Narendra Modi government for the welfare of the Dalit community. He expressed confidence that PM Modi would secure a thumping majority in the 2024 LS polls, declaring his commitment to remain part of the NDA as long as he remained active in politics.
The intense political theatre at the LJP foundation day celebrations is seen as a strategic move by both factions to bargain with the BJP, with an eye on the approaching Lok Sabha elections. As the political landscape in Bihar continues to evolve, these events provide a glimpse into the power dynamics within the LJP and its intricate ties with larger political alliances.
