Patna: Hours after split in LJP with party leader Pashupati Kumar Paras steering command of five of the six LJP MPs for being recognised as leader of LJP parliamentary party in Lok Sabha replacing Chirag Paswan, Congress and RJD squarely blamed JD(U) and BJP for the development and dubbed it as brazen misuse of money and power by them to create troubles in political rivals.
In a dramatic move, LJP leader Pashupati Kumar Paras formally announced in New Delhi that keeping in mind, the sentiments of ninety nine percent workers and leaders of his party to remain in NDA both at the Centre and in Bihar, he had submitted a letter with signature of five of six party MPs to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to recognise him as new leader of LJP parliamentary party in Lower House, replacing Chirag Paswan who was earlier holding the post. Mr Paswan said that Chirag Paswan had taken stand against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in last state assembly elections, which was not liked by ninety percent leaders and workers of the party.
"It is not good that you will love someone, maintain friendship with some others and hate the rest despite being in NDA", Mr Paswan said making oblique reference to stand of Chirag opposing JD(U) candidates and
candidature of Nitish Kumar for the post of CM while at the same time supporting BJP candidates in 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections. Mr Kumar was a good leader and efficient administrator, he remarked which was not in confluent with views of Mr Chirag Paswan. He, however, hastened to add that his decision was not to engineer split in LJP but to unite all. He even made open appeal to all those who had deserted the LJP to return to home.
Senior Congress leader and party MLC Prem Chandra Mishra, reacting to split in LJP, said that JD(U) was to be blamed for the development. It was known to all that JD(U) had been indulged in engineering defection and split in its political rivals in Bihar for the last 10 to 15 years, he added. JD(U) was habitual offender of engineering defection and split in other parties, he noted. (UNI)