Bihar Elections 2020: BJP Snubs LJP Calling Formal Ally "Vote Katua" Despite Paswan's Pro Modi Stance; A Look At LJP-BJP-JDU Triangle

Bihar Elections 2020: With the rift is widening between the LJP and the NDA in Bihar, it is still not clear what is going to happen at the center.

After since the Election commission has announced the dates of the highly anticipated Bihar Assembly Elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the political parties are busy revving up their campaign machinery in full power mode. While the parties are busy making alliances and forming groups, things are not going planned for the NDA member Chirag Paswan led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). Union Minster Prakash Javadekar told the media in Delhi, "We want to make it clear that we have no relations with the LJP and we do not like this politics of spreading confusion, the NDA would win three-fourth majority in the state. The LJP is nothing but a vote katua (vote eater), and is not going to make any impact." The statement came after actor turned politician Chirag Paswan in an interview with NDTV claimed to had discussion with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda about his plans of fielding candidates against the JDU. He also claimed that home minister was silent on his plans. "Chirag Pawan wants to create confusion. In Bihar, the BJP, JD(U), VIP (Vikassheel Insaan Party) and HAM (Hindustani Awam Morcha) are in the NDA. We do not have any alliance with the LJP, nor is it a part of the NDA. Chirag Paswan should not be confused," BJP general secretary in-charge of Bihar Bhupender Yadav tweeted.

Yadav called Paswan’s remarks on Nitish Kumar — who heads the NDA coalition in Bihar — "unfortunate." "Chirag has contested Lok Sabha election in this coalition… during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he was praising the Nitish Kumar government… Now he is indulging in politics of lies for his personal interests." While the 37-year-old two times MP is busy showing his fondness and praise towards PM Modi, BJP is leaving no stone unturned in distancing itself from him. “I don’t need to use PM Modi’s photos for campaigning. He lives in my heart; I am his Hanuman. If needed, I’ll tear open my chest and show it,” said LJP chief Chirag Paswan, who walked out of NDA alliance after attacking Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. This statement came after the LJP chief was accused by deputy CM of the state Sushil Modi, of using PM Modi’s pictures for campaign, signaling widening rift with its former NDA  ally in the state as the political battle heats up. Sushil Modi even warned Paswan of knocking on the Election Commission’s doors to prevent any other party except NDA  coalition members from using PM Modi’s photograph in their campaign posters for the upcoming polls. The son of the late party founder Ram Vilas Paswan is constantly targeting NDA chief in Bihar Nitish Kumar ahead of the polls. In one of his statement he asked why Nitish Kumar never contested any of the assembly elections, always coming from the back door (MLC). He even urged the voters not to vote for JDU, because if Nitish Kumar comes into power, he will put the state in darkness once again. With the rift is widening between the LJP and the NDA in Bihar, it is still not clear what is going to happen at the center. The BJP has expelled 9 of its leaders who were contesting against the NDA, some on LJP tickets. LJP plans to contest on 143 seats and plans to make BJP leader next CM of Bihar. It has fielded 5 of its candidates against the BJP terming it as “Friendly Contest” between the parties.