In a major boost to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chirag Paswan has announced that his party – the splinter group of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) – will support the saffron outfit in the Mokama and Gopalgunj bypolls.
Paswan is the son of the LJP founder and former union minister late Ram Vilas Paswan. He is also a Member of Parliament from Jamui in Bihar.
Paswan announced his decision after he arrived in Patna from Delhi, where he had discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Home minister Amit Shah.
After meeting his party leader, Paswan said, “Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will campaign for the BJP in the by-elections to Mokama and Gopalganj.”
“The decision has been taken after a long meeting on Saturday night with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with whom I have been in touch for quite some time,” the 39-year-old said.
Paswan senior was a Union minister till his death on October 8, 2020. Following his death, there is a power struggle between Chirag Paswan and his uncle, Pashupati Kumar. While the party was divided, Kumar went to the BJP fold while Paswan junior kept his card close to his chest.
On being asked, if he had asked for his uncle’s expulsion from the BJP-led NDA, Paswan junior said, “Right now, I am talking only about the by-elections for Mokama and Gopalganj. It took a long time for us to arrive at a decision. Only two days are left before the campaign comes to an end. Our party will do its best to ensure the victory of the BJP candidates.”
The support of Paswan is crucial as it is expected to bring Dalit votes for the BJP, especially the numerically strong ‘Dusadhs’. The byelections are also the first test for the BJP following the exit of the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) two months ago.
Kumar, who kept oscillating between BJP-led NDA and Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress’ Mahagathbandhan, once again returned to Mahagathbandhan by severing ties with BJP.