After a lot of deliberations and consultations with party functionaries, Chirag Paswan announced his intent. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) would be declaring its candidates on hundred and forty-three (32) seats in Bihar. LJP denied the offer of thirty-two seats coming from BJP because apparently, they are against Nitish’s method of leadership and governance. Maybe, LJP is trying to articulate its opinions and interest by banking heavily upon the anti-incumbency of Nitish Kumar.
They are conducting and crafting their presence in a way that makes their accessibility as an alternative easier before the electorate. As in February 2005, the LJP won twenty-nine (29) seats when it fought on its own. Additionally, LJP can stake a claim in power-sharing along with the BJP in the state by picking upon Deputy CMship as Nitish will be made the fence seater.
But are we sure it of the buildup of such a situation? Can we say it with conviction? I, for one, neither buy it nor believe it. Chirag Paswan is relatively a newcomer to Politics and for LJP to bag a good number of seats, it will not be less than a miracle. Remember, it’s Ramvilas Paswan’s legacy alone which makes LJP a preferable choice before the electorate as a chunk of SC voters will repose their faith in LJP owing to his leadership.
Paswan has held many cabinet portfolios in the UPA and NDA regime but the party’s influence has been limited to their pocket boroughs in and around Vaishali and Hajipur. Let us all not push ourselves away from this point. I don’t believe that Chirag’s strategy won’t impair and impact the prospects of Nitish Kumar in the long. Only if the Grand Alliance were to outperform him or the smaller political outfits of Upendra Kushwaha, Pappu Yadav were up for a show.
Nitish looks comfortable on a driver seat at the moment as possibilities in politics can’t be denied. Hathras rape issue has been picked up by the national media and it has the potential to influence the poll outcome in the state. Also, the panel of doctors at AIIMS have declared Sushant’s death as a death by suicide and not culpable homicide. The stage is wide open but Chirag babu should employ some confidence to ask some uncomfortable questions from the BJP. Don’t deliberately sidestep your self, Mr Paswan, you have a whole political career ahead of you.
Nitish babu would have meticulously mentored you, had you chosen your side creatively and constructively. Don’t behave naively in politics. Grow up and perform rationally and responsibly.