LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan says 'will stand by Chirag's decision' amid rift with Nitish's JDU

A month ahe of Bihar elections, a power tussle has begun within ruling NDA, which will soon take a decision on its seat-sharing pact. BJP chief JP Nda will visit Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his two-day visit to state starting September 12. Ahe of visit, Lok Janshakti Party leer Ram Vilas Paswan has taken to Twitter and said that he will stand firm with every decision of his son Chirag Paswan, who w les LJP. This is seen to be a massive hint by Ram Vilas Paswan who is kwn to be at winning side, and has grabbed Central portfolios several times. 

Taking to Twitter on September 11, Ram Vilas Paswan highlighted that he is Union Minister in Modi Cabinet and n revealed that he is hospitalised. Applauding his son's tremendous effort, he said that Chirag is carrying his duty as party chief with utmost dedication. Emphasizing that he 'stands firm with every decision of his son', Union Minister said: "I am confident that with his youthful energy and thinking, Chirag will take party and Bihar to new heights. I stand firmly with every decision of Chirag."

His statement comes days after Chirag Paswan met his party leers on September 7 and is expected to anunce if LJP will contest against ruling JDU. relationship between two NDA partners has turned sour ahe of elections. Chirag Paswan has publically targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, especially for 'mismanment' during COVID pandemic, for migrant crisis that began due to Coronavirus-induced lockdown and increasing crime rate in state.

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Tussle between JDU and LJP

While Chirag Paswan has targeted Nitish Kumar a number of times, JDU has compared Chirag to 'Kalidasa' who chops branch of tree on which he is sitting. As power tussle spills out into open with poll campaign kickstarting in state, JDU leer KC Tyagi, earlier this week, said that any party which is a part of NDA in state will have to accept Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's leership, ting that top BJP leers, including Amit Shah and its president JP Nda, have anunced that alliance will fight upcoming Bihar assembly polls under Kumar's stewardship.

Responding on same, in a statement, LJP has w said that Tyagi has done m a 'favour' by making it clear that two parties have never h any alliance. "We welcome this statement from JDU that his party has never h any alliance with LJP. JDU leer KC Tyagi has done us a favour," LJP said in a statement.

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This also comes amid BJP's declaration that NDA will contest polls under leership of CM Nitish Kumar. Chirag Paswan-led LJP met on September 7 and sources said that y have decided to contest on 143 seats. Sources say if NDA does t agree to ir poll terms, y may contest upcoming elections against ruling JDU.

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Interestingly, poster launched by LJP for upcoming polls talks about Bihar being led by youth and has a quote that res: "Vo l rahe hain hum par raj karne ke liye aur hum l rahe hain Bihar par naj karne ke liye" which roughly translates to "y are fighting to rule while we are fighting to be proud of our Bihar." While it remains unclear as to who is party attempting to target through aforementioned quote, it should be ted that Nitish Kumar is ruling Bihar for 15 years and contesting for his reelection. Moreover, LJP is also seemingly challenging  social engineering of JDU, which is relevant in Bihar elections, by ar quote in its poster "Dharam na jaat, kare sabki baat" (Neir religion r caste, let's talk about all).

Both Chirag Paswan's LJP and Nitish Kumar's JDU have clarified, however, that y will stick to alliance with BJP in Bihar. It remains to be seen how and when  BJP leership steps in to quell ongoing tussle between LJP and JDU.

Bihar is all set for assembly polls with Election Commission issuing guidelines for elections amid COVID-19 pandemic. In  243-member assembly seat, NDA has 131, and Mahagathbandhan has 101 seats (11 seats are vacant).

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