Paras elected national president of LJP, claims full support in party

Patna: Mr Pashupati Kumar Paras, LJP MP from Hajipur and uncle of party leader Chirag Paswan, was today declared elected national president of LJP in executive committee meeting called by Paras faction at the residence of former MP Surajbhan Singh here today, which further increased the grip of Mr Paras over the party in a tussle with Chirag.

Mr Surajbhan Singh, who was made working president of LJP by Paras faction, declared Mr Pashupati Kumar Paras, elected as national president of the party.

Mr Singh said that Mr Paras was the only candidate to file a nomination paper for the post of national president of LJP during the scheduled period from 11 AM to 3 PM. Mr Singh was appointed as returning officer for conducting the election of party president.

Later, Mr Paras told media persons that his unanimous election as national president of the LJP proved the fact that he had full party support. He assured that his party would grow and strengthen further under his leadership as the per vision of his elder brother Ram Vilas Paswan who had founded LJP 21 years back.

Mr Paras said that under his leadership, the party would strive hard to fulfil the dreams of Ram Vilas Paswan. All efforts would be made for upliftment of poor, downtrodden, women and minorities, he assured.

The newly elected president claimed that there was no difference in the party. His efforts would be focused on how to strengthen the party, he added.

Mr Paras said that Ram Vilas Paswan always used to say that support should be extended to the poor if they were engaged in confrontation or any sort of quarrel with the rich.

Similarly, support should also be extended to women if they were engaged in conflict with men and minorities should be supported if they had any issue with the majority, he added while recalling the stand of Ram Vilas Paswan. He assured that the views and ideology of the founder of LJP would be implemented in letter and spirit.

The newly elected president lost cool when a reporter asked what was the advice of Ram Vilas Paswan in case of confrontation between uncle and nephew, an oblique reference to ongoing tussle between Paras and Chirag to firm up control over the party. ' "What uncle would do when nephew turns dictator in the party", he replied with annoyance visible on his face.

Mr Paras dismissed the claim of LJP leader Chirag Paswan that election for the post of party president could be held only in the event of death or resignation by the incumbent president. India was a democratic country and no political party could make such provision in its constitution, he said, adding that no one could become lifetime president of the party as no such provision could be made. There was a provision in the LJP constitution for the election of party president every two to three years, he stressed.(UNI)