PATNA: Is Jamui MP Chirag Paswan inching closer to the opposition camp in the state after being snubbed by the BJP? If the recent developments are any indication, the answer is in the affirmative.
A day after RJD chief Lalu Prasad said he would like both Chirag and his younger son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to be together, the Jamui MP had on Wednesday expressed his gratitude for the support received from the former.
“I thank Laluji for lending credence to my leadership. I respect him for his feelings for being a guardian. But my present priority is to complete my ongoing ashirvad yatra,” Chirag had said.
Earlier, Lalu’s younger son and leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had offered Chirag to join hands with the opposition in the state. Tejashwi had even reminded Chirag of the “cordial relationship” between Lalu and LJP founder late Ram Vilas Paswan.
RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said, “Both Tejashwi and Chirag are young leaders and rising stars in the state politics. If they come together, no political force can stop them from coming to power in the state.”
Tiwari also hinted at a possible alliance between the RJD and Chirag Paswan led faction of the LJP in future. However, he said they were not in a hurry.
Sources close to Chirag said he was planning to visit Uttar Pradesh in near future. The assembly polls in neighbouring UP is scheduled to be held early next yeare.
State chief of Chirag Paswan-led Raju Tiwari said, “I can’t throw more light on Chirag’s visit to poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, but I can say that his visit to Uttar Pradesh will take place in the near future.”
The JD(U) is little concerned about growing camaraderie between Chirag and Tejashwi. “Our leader Nitish Kumar is banking on development works alone. It hardly matters who is with whom and who enters into an alliance,” building construction department minister and JD(U) leader Ashok Choudhary told reporters at Jamui where he had gone to oversee development works.
