Chirag Paswan Appoints Raju Tiwari As LJP Bihar Unit Chief; Know All About The Rift

Tiwari is known to be closer to Paswan as opposed to Prince Raj who is one of five leaders who rebelled against Paswan's leadership.

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New Delhi: Amid the feud between nephew Chirag Paswan & his uncle Pashupati Paras, the sideline Paswan appoints Raju Tiwari as the Bihar unit president of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in place of Prince Raj.

Tiwari is known to be closer to Paswan as opposed to Prince Raj who is one of five leaders who rebelled against Paswan's leadership.

Prince Raj was appointed as the LJP chief in Bihar in October 2019 in place of senior party leader and Paswan's uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. He was removed from the party's top post by the rebel faction of the party led by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. 

During a press conference, isolated within the party by crisis, Chirag Paswan declared himself a "sher ka bachcha" yesterday and said that he was ready to fight. Paswan said that he looked up to his uncle Pashupati Paras after his father Ram Vilas Paswan passed away. "Today I have become an orphan after my uncle left me, not when my father passed away," Chirag Paswan was reported as saying.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chirag wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stating that the decision of announcing Pashupati Paras as the leader of LJP in the Lower House was contrary to the provisions of the party's Constitution. Chirag also requested the Lok Sabha Speaker to issue a new circular in his favour as leader of the LJP in the House.

Paswan targeted Paras for non-cooperation and said he was ready for a legal fight to establish control over the party. Paras also accused Paswan of violating the party’s constitution by holding three posts - that of national president, chairman of the parliamentary board and parliamentary party chief.

Paswan's supporters – upset over his removal as the party chief – had vandalised the party office in Patna on Tuesday, shouting slogans and waving black flags. After they were dispersed by the police, they sat on the roadside in protest.

LJP was formed by former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan in 2000. Paswan, a heavyweight leader in Bihar politics, passed away in October 2020.