The two LJP factions headed by Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Kumar Paras moved swiftly on Tuesday to take control of the party as a national executive meeting of the organisation expelled five MPs while the Paras-led group removed Paswan as its president.
In his first reaction after his paternal uncle Paras ousted him as the leader of the party in Lok Sabha with the support of the five MPs, Paswan likened the organisation to a mother who should not be “betrayed”.
He also shared on Twitter a letter he had written to him on March 29 that highlighted Paras’ alleged indifference to the party’s agenda and conduct against its interests, and had urged him to fulfil his responsibilities to it and their family following the death of LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan.
Both sides claimed they have followed the due procedure of calling “emergency” meetings for taking the decision. Each also claimed it is the “original” LJP and the matter is likely to reach the Election Commission soon, in what might result into a hard-fought legal feud among the Paswan clan members for the control of party symbol of “Bungalow”.
While Chirag has been isolated in the parliamentary party as all other MPs have backed Paras, sources said he continued to enjoy the support of other LJP leaders.
Sources said the rebel group would now seek to remove Chirag as the leader of the LJP parliamentary board, stripping him of every position he took control of after the death of his father just ahead of Bihar Assembly elections last year.
Sources said MP Surajbhan would function as the working president till a new president was elected at an LJP national executive meeting expected to be called soon.
