Khagaria Lok Sabha seat is in discussion.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
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Late Ram Vilas Paswan, founder of Lok Janshakti Party, is in the news again. His son and Jamui’s LJP MP Chirag Paswan has been keeping his father in the news for a long time, currently Paswan is also in the news because of his brother Pashupati Kumar Paras. Khagaria is in the news due to the tussle between the two parts of his party LJP, which was divided into two after Paswan’s death, over the seat sharing of the National Democratic Alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Khagaria’s LJP MP Mehboob Ali Qaiser has left Union Minister and LJP (National) chief Pashupati Kumar Paras and turned to LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan. Paras does not want to leave the Hajipur seat of his late elder brother for his nephew and the reversal of Khagaria MP has left him worried.
The agreement between Chirag-Paras is yet to be disclosed
Chirag’s party leaders are saying that Paras has agreed to leave Hajipur seat and he has been offered the post of Governor from NDA. On the other hand, it is being told that even if Paras leaves Hajipur seat due to compulsion to remain in NDA, moving to his home district Khagaria will be both his compulsion and choice. In such a situation, it would have been easy for him to stand in place of current LJP MP Mehboob Ali Qaiser. Just as Kaiser and other LJP MPs had left Chirag Paswan at the last moment, now the same seems to be happening with Pashupati Paras. Kaiser has been seen in Delhi with a feeling of dedication towards Chirag and now it is being assumed that he is completely ready to turn away from the Paras group and go towards Chirag. In such a situation, his Khagaria seat is in discussion.
What is the atmosphere of Khagaria right now?
Khagaria Lok Sabha seat, made up of six assembly constituencies, will become another kind of arena in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This time there will be a face-to-face clash between the Grand Alliance and the NDA on this Yadav-dominated Lok Sabha seat. Even before the latest developments, many contenders were vying for power from Khagaria. It was being said that Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser, who became MP from LJP twice, may have to face many challenges. The crisis of unity within the NDA has become evident many times. The tussle regarding claims is also clearly visible. If Kaiser is changing sides to maintain his claim, then Paras may take a final decision to step down from here to maintain his political existence. Outside this fight within LJP, many BJP leaders are trying to gamble on Khagaria. Apart from this, if Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) enters NDA till the seat sharing, then VIP chief Mukesh Sahni can also think about this seat.
Mukesh Sahni has played a bet here
Lok Janshakti Party leader Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser is MP from Khagaria Lok Sabha seat for two consecutive terms. In the 2014 elections, he had won this seat by defeating Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Krishna Kumari Yadav by 76,003 votes. Whereas, in 2019, Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser defeated VIP chief Mukesh Sahni by 2,48,570 votes. Sahni had got almost half the votes.
Internal strife in the Grand Alliance, many claimants
While there is a situation of doubt in the NDA from Khagaria Lok Sabha seat, everything is not well in the Grand Alliance too. Last time Mukesh Sahni had tried his luck on behalf of the Grand Alliance, whereas this time he is stuck in the deal before the formal announcement. Here, RJD and Congress have staked their claims on this seat. This time, there is a demand from RJD to make District President Manohar Yadav its candidate, while RJD candidate Krishna Kumari Yadav, who stood second in 2014, is also trying to get this seat from the party. Many Congress leaders are trying, but they are not coming to Khagaria land and claiming it.