EC allots new names and symbols to LJP’s Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Paras factions

New Delhi: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday allotted new names and symbols to the two factions of the erstwhile Lok Janshakti party faction, one faction is led by Chriag Paswan and the other by his uncle Pashupati Paras.

As per the allotment, Chirag Paswan led faction will be known as 'Lok Janshakti (Ram Vilas)' while, the faction led by his uncle Pashupati Paras will be called "Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party."

The Election Commission also alloted 'Helicopter' as the election symbol to Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and 'Sewing machine' symbol to the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party.

The Election Commission had asked both the factions to submit the different party names and symbols by Monday amid upcoming by- Elections in Bihar.

In a statement the commission said, "It has also been directed that the Returning Officers conducting the by-elections should be informed immediately that the candidates of both these factions should be treated as candidates of recognised regional parties".

On October 2, the poll panel had frozen the Lok Janshakti Party symbol ahead of the by polls in Kusheshwar Asthan and Tarapur assembly seats in Bihar which are scheduled to take place on October 30.

The crisis began in LJP when five of its MPs switched to Paras’ camp in June this year.

Later, Pashupati Paras declared himself as the party president in Patna.

After the death of Ram Vilas Paswan last year, his son Chirag Paswan and his uncle Paras have staked claim over the party leadership and had approached the poll panel in this regard. (UNI)