All’s well in LJP, son-in-law says sorry to boss Ram Vilas

PATNA: LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan must be a relaxed man now, at least on his home front. His son-in-law Anil Kumar Sadhu, who had threatened to contest against LJP nominee from Raja Pakar in Vaishali district, took a U-turn on Wednesday. Sadhu was suspended from the party. Subsequently, he had threatened to set up his Dalit Sena candidates against all LJP candidates this Bihar election. Sadhu is a former state president of Dalit Sena.
Sadhu had created a scene after he was denied ticket. He had gone to the extent of calling his father-in-law Dhritrashtra, whom he had accused of ignoring LJP workers for the sake of his son Chirag Paswan. However, on Wednesday, Sadhu said he would never go against the family.
“I committed a mistake but I have realized it now. I will work and strengthen the party so that NDA is able to dislodge Nitish Kumar government,” he said after a meeting with LJP chief and his son. Sadhu’s suspension order was also withdrawn. “LJP chief is like my father and Chirag is my younger brother. I can never go against my own family,” he added.
Referring to his outburst and criticism of Paswan, Sadhu said that it was not a personal attack.
The sudden outburst reflected the anger of party workers at the grassroots level after he was denied ticket.
“After the meeting with party chief, I talked to my supporters from all over the state. They also felt that going against LJP would indirectly help the Mahagathbandhan. So, we decided to stand by the NDA,” Sadhu said.
However, LJP sources said the senior Paswan has assured Sadhu to field him from Raja Pakar. LJP has announced Paswan’s brother and party state president Pashupati Nath Paras as its candidate from Raja Pakar.
Paras’ name has also been announced from Alauli in Khagaria district and he has filed his nomination papers from there. “To pacify Sadhu and keep the party united in this crucial election, LJP may announce Sadhu’s name,” said a source. Raja Pakar will go to the polls in the third phase on October 28.