LJP neta says NDA is intact, fired
Action against Munger district president for indiscipline, says party
A district president of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) was sacked for stating that the ruling NDA is united in Bihar. According to a statement issued by the LJP, the action was initiated against senior leader and Munger district president Raghvendra Bharti for not following the guidelines issued by the central leadership and violating the discipline of the party.
“Munger district president Raghvendra Bharti has been relieved from his post for stating that NDA is intact. His statement is against the party line and he is being relieved from his post till further notice. It has been decided that only our president Chirag Paswan is authorised to give statements regarding the alliance,” said a statement issued by LJP. A copy of the letter is also available with this newspaper.
The action has triggered speculation about a rift in the NDA ahead of Bihar Assembly polls which are slated to be held by the end of this year.
Mr Paswan had also recently made the NDA uncomfortable by expressing his unease with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar over the handling of guest workers crisis and law and order scenario in the state.
A week earlier while addressing party workers through a video conference, he said that the face
of NDA was changing and that they should be prepared for any situation in Bihar elections.
According to LJP insiders, “Mr Paswan feels that Bihar CM Kumar doesn’t give much importance to him and often ignores his suggestions”. A section in the NDA, however, feels that Chirag has been eyeing two of the 12 vacant seats in Bihar Legislative
Council from the governor’s quota and also wants sizeable seat share to contest in Assembly elections.
Sources said that he has already conveyed his demands to the BJP central unit. According to reports, BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav met Mr Paswan earlier this week at his Delhi residence and assured him that LJP will get a fair deal in the upcoming polls.
Later on Wednesday during a confidential meeting held between Nitish and BJP leaders in Patna, Mr Yadav is said to have discussed the scenario. NDA insiders aware of the development told this newspaper that issues related to seat-sharing were discussed during the meeting.