New Delhi: Former Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan hinted on Sunday that various parties are vying for his support, suggesting he might align with the one offering better terms.
As an NDA ally, Paswan has received overtures from Bihar's opposition coalition, the 'Mahagathbandhan,' reported PTI.
Speaking at a rally in the Sahebganj assembly segment, Chirag hinted at considering his options and leaning towards the side with more favorable terms.
"I can see the posse of media persons here who are anxious to know whom Chirag Paswan is aligned with. I wish to tell them that Chirag Paswan is aligned only with the people of Bihar,” said the leader, who has often professed his loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likening him to Lord Ram while referring to himself as Lord Hanuman, as per the PTI report.
He mentioned that every party and coalition desires his support due to his "Bihar first, Bihari first" vision aimed at lifting the state from chronic backwardness. "Every party, every coalition wants Chirag Paswan to be on its side," he said.
Asserting his claim as the true heir to his late father Ram Vilas Paswan, he called himself "sher ka beta". Chirag refrained from directly naming his NDA adversaries, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, who split the late leader's party.
However, he spoke at length about the "conspiracies" he had to face, "aimed at breaking my home, my family, and my party, though I have demonstrated that Chirag Paswan cannot be cowed down", the PTI report added.
The rally in Sahebganj, under the Vaishali Lok Sabha seat, where the LJP previously triumphed, marks Chirag's bid to assert his father's legacy, especially after announcing the LJP's intention to contest Hajipur, Ram Vilas Paswan's stronghold.
However, the move hasn't been well-received by the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), led by Paras, who intends to seek re-election from Hajipur.
RLJP spokesman Shravan Agrawal said, "There is no question of our giving up Hajipur or any of the other four seats our party holds. We are sure our claim will be honoured by the BJP as we are the NDA's natural allies. Why else are they (Chirag's party) getting an offer from the other side, but nobody dares to approach us with such enticements".
While no official offer has been disclosed by the 'Mahagathbandhan', sources told PTI that Chirag could be accommodated with more than six seats. In the 2019 elections, the LJP won all six seats it contested.
The feud between Chirag and Paras poses a dilemma for the BJP, as the party cannot afford to lose Chirag, who enjoys mass appeal, but also does not wish to turn its back on Paras, whom it made a Union minister after Paswan senior's death and behind whom all other LJP MPs had rallied when the party split up in 2021.
Despite the rift, one LJP MP, Veena Devi, representing Vaishali, recently announced her allegiance to Chirag and attended the Sahebganj rally, reported PTI.