LJP split wide open, Chirag Paswan out in the cold

In a contemporary version of the palace coups of yore, Lok Janshakti Party founder Ramvilas Paswan’s brother and nephew combined to depose the late Dalit leader’s son 

Chirag Paswan as leader of the family outfit in Lok Sabha. Five of the six LJP MPs joined the putsch, leaving Chirag with the legacy of his late father, a respected figure for Dusadhs, a Dalit category in Bihar. Ramvilas Paswan’s younger brother Pashupati Paras — a known figure in Bihar politics who has served in several ministries and currently represents Hajipur, the constituency of the elder sibling, in Lok Sabha — is the new leader. Ramvilas’s nephew Prince Raj too has sided with Paras.

Chirag’s dethronement climaxed a dizzying turn of events, which unfolded in public glare since Sunday evening, and is widely believed to have been executed by JD(U) as revenge against Chirag for causing the defeat of Nitish Kumar’s nominees in the last assembly polls. The precision targeting of JD(U) nominees left the party languishing in the third spot, way behind its arch-rival RJD as well as ally BJP.

Seething with resentment, JD(U) had sworn revenge. It was exacted in a forensic manner, with Chirag failing to get wind of the plot until the rebels had met the Lok Sabha Speaker late Sunday evening with the plea that they be recognised as a separate group under Paras. JD(U) was, quite naturally, thrilled with the success of the game plan, with party chief R C P Singh exulting, “Chirag has reaped what he had sown