EC assigns new party names and symbols to warring LJP factions
PATNA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday allotted new symbols and party names to the warring factions of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) led by Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union minister of food processing industries.
The ECI’S move came three days after it froze the ‘bungalow’ symbol for the party, barring both factions from using it in the bypolls on October 30.
Following requests from Paswan, the lawmaker from Jamui in Bihar, the poll panel said his faction will be recognised as Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while Paras’ team will be acknowledged as Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party. The Paswan and Paras-led factions were assigned the ‘helicopter’ and ‘sewing machine’ symbols, respectively, by the poll panel.
“Having considered the request, the Commission has allotted the name Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) for your group and has allotted the Symbol ‘Helicopter’ as the symbol to be allotted to the candidate set up, if any, by your group in the current by-election,” a directive issued by ECI to Paswan said.
In the order issued to Hajipur MP Paras, the ECI said: “Having considered your request, the Commission has allotted the name Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party for your group and has allotted the Symbol ‘Sewing
Machine’ as the symbol to be allotted to the candidate set up, if any, by your group in the current by-election.”
In June, the two warring factions had approached the ECI over the right on the party symbol. On October 1, Paswan moved the poll panel, seeking an early settlement on the issue ahead of bypolls to two assembly seats in Bihar – Tarapur and Kusheshwar Asthan – at the end of the month.
“We welcome the EC’S decision. It is a vindication of our claim that we are the real holders of former Union minister,” LJP (Ram Vilas) spokesperson Ashraf Ansari said.
Speaking on similar lines, Gyanendra Yadav, associate professor of sociology, College of Commerce in Patna, said: “Late Ram Vilas Paswan was a tall Dalit leader and he still has a strong following, which was proved during Chirag’s Aashirvad Yatra in July. Union minister Pashupati Paras could not get the same response.”
Paras also welcomed the poll panel’s decision. “I welcome the EC’S decision,” he said.