Rajak’s meeting with Jamui MP: RJD, LJP deny political meaning

PATNA: The RJD is trying hard to woo Jamui MP Chirag Paswan to join the opposition camp in Bihar. A senior RJD leader said there have been frequent telephonic conversations between Chirag and party president Lalu Prasad’s younger son and leader of opposition in Bihar legislative assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
“Chirag and Tejashwi do talk to each other over the phone and after the recent split in the LJP.Chirag had also talked to Lalu ji. Both have an old family relation and Chirag treats Lalu ji like his guardian, especially after the death of his father and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan,” he said.
He, however, added that Chirag may not join RJD, but there were chances of an alliance between the two parties in future.
RJD national general secretary Shyam Rajak’s meeting with Chirag in Delhi on Saturday had triggered speculation that something was cooking. Though Rajak called it a courtesy meeting.
“Milte hain to kuch baat to hoti hi hai,” Rajak told TOI over phone from Delhi but did not reveal the content of their conversation.
On the other hand, leaders of both RJD and LJP denied that this meeting had anything to do with Chirag’s telephonic conversation with the RJD first family or immediate political development between the two parties.
A close aide of Lalu, Bhola Yadav said Chirag was welcome in his party, adding, “Whatever happened to Chirag was wrong. Chirag is LJP’s future and his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras has never been a mass leader. It was because of Chirag’s father that Paras became an MP."
LJP state president Raju Tiwari also accepted that Chirag and Tejashwi talk to each other, especially if any of their family members is ill or any untoward incident happens in the family. However, he said, Chirag’s recent meeting with Rajak had nothing to do with their political plans.
“There is no election right now. So, there is no need for any political development. Just wait and watch, at least for a year,” said Raju, adding, “We are on our ‘ashirvaad yatra’ to seek people’s blessings. Our leader has been betrayed by his own relatives.”
LJP state spokesperson Ashraf Ansari said, “One will be overwhelmed to see the kind of love Chirag ji is getting from people.”