Amid signs of chill in LJP leader Chirag Paswan’s ties with the BJP-led NDA, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday reached out to him for aligning with the Opposition, saying he can carry forward his father Ram Vilas Paswan”s legacy only by joining the “existential fight” against RSS ideologue M S Golwalkar’s thoughts.
Experts believe, RJD’s decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of LJP founder and former union minister (late) Ram Vilas Paswan on the same day as RJD’s foundation day, July 5, can have a far fetched impact on Bihar’s politics.
RJD’s decision has assumed more political significane now as Chirag Paswan, son of (late) Ram Vilas Paswan, has been left alone after a leadership coup in LJP, headed by his own uncle, removed him as the party president.
RJD celebrates its foundation day with much fanfare every year on July 5. This year, the party will start the day by offering floral tributes to Ram Vilas Paswan.
“Our party has decided to celebrate Dalit messiah, Ram Vilas Ji’s birth anniversary to commemorate his contribution to the state, I think this itself is self-explanatory,” Yadav said to news agency PTI. Yadav also mentioned how his father Lalu Yadav sent Ram Vilas Paswan to Rajya Sabha even when the LJP did not even have a single MLA and Paswan himself lost the election in 2009.
On Saturday, Chirag Paswan said Tejashwi is like his younger brother and hinted at a future alliance with RJD.
Asked about his call last week urging Chirag to quit the NDA, Yadav said the country is at a juncture where pro-Constitution, pro-democracy, pro-farmers and pro-people forces are on one side and those antithetical to this ideology are on the other side.
“Late Ram Vilas Paswan Ji was a socialist and a firm believer in the idea of social justice throughout his life. He fought caste supremacy, poverty and inequality during his political journey,” the 31-year-old leader said.
Asked about the political tussle between the LJP factions of Chirag and his paternal uncle Paras, the RJD leader threw his weight behind Chirag and took a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying those who have engineered this split were vengeful against Chirag Paswan as he fought against them in last assembly elections.
“Late Ram Vilas Ji made Chirag Ji his heir apparent by appointing him as the party’s national president and the parliamentary leader in Lok Sabha and it is up to him now as to how he carries forward his father’s legacy,” Mr Yadav said.
Those who are questioning him now, why they didn’t do so when he was made national president of LJP, he said in an apparent reference to Paras.
On Chirag holding the JD(U) responsible for the turmoil in the LJP, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly said Chirag has made it quite clear through his letters that this was staged and the “perpetrators are known to everyone now”.
“Those who worked to split the party (LJP) way back in 2005 and 2010 have in a sinister manner planned this as well. Nitish ji has a track record of living on borrowed mandate and has always played his game with support of borrowed players,” Yadav said in a scathing attack on the chief minister.
Nitish Kumar has “spared none and betrayed everyone”, he alleged.
Last week also, Yadav had reached out to Chirag, saying the LJP leader must reconsider his continuance in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
A tussle has been on within the LJP after Chirag’s uncle Paras was elected as the party’s leader in Lok Sabha by the five of party’s six MPs in place of Chirag.
Both the factions have now moved to control the party and project their group as the real LJP, founded by Chirag”s father Ram Vilas Paswan.
While the wing led by Chirag Paswan has expelled the five MPs from the party, the rival group has removed him as its president.
A meeting of the LJP national executive last Sunday endorsed Chirag”s leadership and hit out at the faction headed by his paternal uncle for working against the party’s constitution.
