Bihar: Chirag Paswan strengthens grip on father's bastion, celebrates RVP's birth anniversary

PATNA: In a bid to further strengthen his grip on his father late Ram Vilas Paswan (RVP)’s Karmbhumi (land of labour), Jamui MP and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on the occasion of RVP’s birth anniversary on Tuesday held a mega-show and unveiled full-body a statue of his father at Hajipur, the parliamentary constituency represented by Ram Vilas for nine terms.
Incidentally, the entire Paswan family, except Chirag’s estranged uncle and present Hajipur MP Pashupati Kumar Paras and estranged cousin Prince Raj, were present on the occasion. Paras was scheduled to organise a feast at the party's Patna office.
Addressing a jam-packed public meet at Chouharmal Chowk at Hajipur, where LJP founder RVP’s statue was unveiled, Chirag said: “We started Aashirvad Yatra from Hajipur on July 5 last and got immense support from across the state as part. Today, I am again standing at the same place and very thankful to you all for the support. My father always considered Hajipur as his mother and today we are all proud that his statue has been put up at Hajipur itself.”
Chirag recalled that RVP, a former union consumer affairs minister in the Narendra Modi-government at the Centre, won from Hajipur parliamentary constituency by record votes twice, including in 1977 general elections and got his name registered in Guinness Book of World Records .
“Our leader (RVP) is known because of Hajipur and Hajipur is also known because of Ram Vilas Paswan ji. They have become synonymous with each other. I believe that I would have your acceptance if I say that credit for most development works at Hajipur goes to our leader Ram Vilas Paswan ji. The zonal office of railways, CIPET (Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology) and IHM (Institute of Hotel Management) set up at Hajipur are few examples of works done by him here,” he said.
Taking a dig at his estranged uncle Paras and cousin Prince, Chirag said: “Our party got split around a year ago due to personal motives of some people. Still I invited him (Paras) here. I would have been glad if Chacha ji would have come as my entire family is here.”
LJP headed by Ram Vilas won six seats in Bihar in 2020 Lok Sabha elections as part of the NDA. However, eight months after demise of RVP in October, 2020 due to prolonged ailments, Paras announced on June 14, 2021 that he and four other MPs have grouped together and they should be recognised as the real LJP. Consequently, Paras faction and Chirag- faction fought a long battle over owing the name LJP but eventually had to settle with new names- LJP (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party.
Chirag is most likely to contest the next parliamentary election from Hajipur to get his father’s bastion to his hold. “The people of Hajipur always stood with me as a shield. They are my biggest strength,” Chirag said at Hajipur on Tuesday.
Senior functionaries from other parties, including Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha and Vikassheel Insan Party chief Mukesh Sahni also attended the event. “We fought the election together in 2015 assembly polls in Bihar. We toured and addressed election rallies across the state and he used to guide me about electoral politics. There was much to learn from him,” Sahni said.