The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday allotted the names Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party to the LJP factions led by Lok Sabha member Chirag Paswan and Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras respectively.
In letters to the two leaders, the ECI also said it had allotted the symbols - helicopter for Mr. Paswan’s faction and sewing machine for Mr. Paras’ - after considering their requests. These would be applicable for the ongoing by-elections to two Bihar Assembly seats.
On October 2, the ECI passed an interim order on the dispute between the two groups about who represents the LJP. It said while it resolved the matter, both factions would not be allowed to use the name LJP and its symbol of “bungalow”. It had asked both leaders to submit options for names and symbols by Monday.
Leadership claim
Both sides staked claim to the leadership of the party after the death of LJP founder Ramvilas Paswan last year. Mr. Paras, who is Ramvilas Paswan’s brother, on June 14, claimed that he had been elected the party’s leader in Parliament, the ECI order stated. Mr. Chirag Paswan, Ramvilas Paswan’s son, had written to the ECI in June and July informing it of the suspension of five MPs from the party, including Mr. Paras. Mr. Chirag Paswan had also written to the ECI on September 10, reiterating his claim of being the party president.
