Lok Jan Shakti Party Ram Vilas chief Chirag Paswan
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
It doesn’t take long for times to change in politics. The latest example is Chirag Paswan, a faction leader of LJP and who has been in political exile for a long time. BJP had once given preference to his uncle Pashupati Paras over Chirag who calls himself Modi’s Hanuman and left him to fend for himself. Now times have changed. Now the same Chirag is the hero in the eyes of BJP.
Actually, Chirag’s bad days started with the 2021 Bihar Assembly elections. Amidst the feud with Nitish, he fielded the party on his own and gave the slogan of Bihari First. Despite distance from the alliance, BJP did not field candidates on only JDU seats. With this strategy, LJP was able to win only one seat, but after the loss on two dozen seats, JDU’s status was reduced to that of BJP’s younger brother. Due to this the differences between BJP and JDU deepened.
Angered by the loss, Nitish scolded Chirag’s uncle Pashupati Paras. There was a rebellion against Chirag. Five out of six MPs left Chirag. Then the BJP, forced and standing on the back foot, not only gave preference to Pashupati over Chirag, but also made him a cabinet minister in place of late Ram Vilas Paswan.
The atmosphere in BJP was in favor of Chirag when JDU suddenly distanced itself from NDA and formed the government with RJD. Meanwhile, BJP’s internal survey revealed the fact that Pashupati does not have a strong presence among Chirag’s own caste voters. There is sympathy towards Chirag in this class. BJP, which is busy in cultivating the important Dalit vote bank of the state, has now decided to give preference to Chirag.
Had an important role in making alliance with BJP
It was Chirag who convinced his father Ram Vilas Paswan to forge an alliance with the BJP before the 2014 elections. In both the elections held after this, Chirag had decided the party’s strategy. In the last elections, when Paswan decided to come from Rajya Sabha due to ill health, Pashupati was made the candidate from his traditional seat Hajipur on the insistence of Chirag. However, after Paswan’s death, Pashupati isolated Chirag in the party.
Hanuman got Sanjeevani
According to the new agreement, BJP has given five seats to Chirag including late Paswan’s Hajipur. Pashupati has resigned from the Union Cabinet. However, BJP had proposed to make him the Governor. At present, Modi’s Hanuman has got Sanjeevani. At the same time, BJP has not only left Pashupati to his fate but has also not listened to his supporter Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
