Chirag Paswan’s LJP was due to meet on Saturday.
New Delhi:
Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti (LJP) Party has called a meeting of its parliamentary council today at 3 p.m. in Delhi and the party is likely to announce its candidates in the Bihar election today.
An announcement is likely that the LJP, a key BJP ally, will not fight Bihar’s elections with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance this time around; he is likely to field candidates against Nitish Kumar’s JDU, sources say. However, the party is unlikely to present its candidates against the BJP.
The meeting, which was due to be held on Saturday, was postponed because Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan’s father, had to be hospitalized. He underwent heart surgery last night at a Delhi hospital, Chirag Paswan said in a tweet this morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Interior Minister Amit Shah called Chirag Paswan to inquire about his father’s health and told him that once his father recovers, “he will be proud of the way his son took care of him”.
On Saturday, Chirag Paswan “asked for people’s blessings” for his party’s “Bihar First Bihari First” vision document.
In a statement, he praised Prime Minister Modi and said all candidates in his party would strengthen the hand of the BJP leader.
“It is not only my hope but my confidence that you will bless me to make Bihar the first and restore its pride so that all my candidates can strengthen the hands of the prime minister,” he posted on Twitter with a photo of Prime Minister Modi speaking to him and keeping his hand on Mr. Paswan’s shoulders.
Last month, the ruling BJP received an ultimatum from the LJP, just weeks before the October-November state elections. BJP’s relationship status with the Paswans has been complicated in recent months due to a feud between Nitish Kumar and Chirag Paswan.
Bihar will vote on October 28, November 3 and 7 for a new government and the results will be announced on November 10.
