On LJP split anniversary, Chirag Paswan pledges lifelong dedication to the party to MPs

NEW DELHI: Indian National Congress (Ram Vilas) leader and Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday reflected on the day in 2021 when divisions erupted within the party that brought uncertainty over his own political future and pledged lifelong dedication to the party to party members, including newly elected legislators.

Paswan called a rally for lawmakers and party workers to take oath of allegiance three years after the party was split in a move spearheaded by his uncle, then Congress leader Pashupati Kumar Paras.

The party members took an oath to dedicate themselves to the party throughout their lives, spread the party’s ideals and work for the progress of Dalits, backward classes, minorities and the poor.

Paswan hailed the party’s rise amid bleak adversity after four of its members defected from the party and pointed out that the party won all the five seats it contested in the recent elections.

Not only was there division within the party, but also within his family, Paras blamed his uncle and former Union Minister, adding that on learning about the turmoil, Paras did not even come to his house to meet him.

While its allies, the BJP and JD(U), lost the popular vote in the elections, the LJP won all five of Bihar’s parliamentary seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed Paswan as a minister in his cabinet, in charge of food processing, the same role Paras held in the previous government.

In the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party ignored Paras’ claims and chose Paswan as an ally, as he had successfully regained the support base of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan.