Don’t use my name to settle scores with BJP, Chirag tells JD(U)

Paswan was responding to JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, who had said the previous day that his party was well aware of “Chirag model”, implying that Chirag Paswan had fielded candidates against the JD(U) in the 2020 Bihar assembly elections to damage its prospects under a conspiracy.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas Paswan) chief and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan on Monday hit back at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and dared the latter to fight elections on his own at least once if he had faith in his work and if he felt the people voted on his face.

LJP (Ramvilas) president Chirag Paswan addresses press conference in Patna on Monday. (Santosh Kumar/HT Photo)

Paswan was responding to JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, who had said the previous day that his party was well aware of “Chirag model”, implying that Chirag Paswan had fielded candidates against the JD(U) in the 2020 Bihar assembly elections to damage its prospects under a conspiracy.

“If they have to settle scores with BJP, they should go straight and do it, not use Chirag’s name. Why cannot Nitish Kumar talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi? He should not try to hide behind Chirag model to cover up his inefficiency,” the Jamui MP told reporters in Patna on Monday before leaving for Saran, where 13 people have lost lives in the latest hooch tragedy.

“The media also asked it, but he (Lalan Singh) did not answer... If there was a conspiracy and JD(U) knew it, why did Nitish Kumar then become CM at their mercy despite being relegated to third position. I openly say I fought to cut JD(U) to size. This is what opposition parties do and should be done. Different parties fight election not to help one another, but to defeat and win,” he said.

Last year, LJP suffered a split, with five of its six Lok Sabha members siding with Chirag Paswan’s uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, who was later given a berth in the union cabinet.