“Son Of A Lion,” Says Chirag Paswan, Sidelined By Rebels In His LJP Party

New Delhi: 

Chirag Paswan, fighting for survival after a coup in the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) led by his uncle, said today that he was ready for a legal fight against the rebel group, declaring that he was “the son of Ram Vilas Paswan, a sher ka bachcha“.

Addressing his first press conference since the crisis exploded, the sidelined LJP leader also defended decisions like contesting the Bihar election separately from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which was one of the reasons for his feud with his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras.

“Today I have become an orphan after my uncle left me. Not when I lost my father,” said Paswan Junior, in comments that oscillated between tough and emotional.

“When I was ill, the plan (coup) was made and executed by others.”

Pashupati Paras and four other MPs on Monday broke away and asked the Speaker to recognize them as a separate group, leaving Chirag Paswan, their leader, alone in what was a group of six MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Paras has rebuffed all attempts at a rapprochement and has been cold to Chirag Paswan’s reported compromise formula, to install his mother as LJP president in his place.

“Till yesterday afternoon my mother and I tried to establish contact with my uncle. If you had asked me, I would have made you party’s parliamentary board chief,” Chirag Paswan told reporters.

“We may have to fight a long legal battle on how the rebel group elected someone as its chairman.”