New Delhi: Bihar's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) national president and MP Chirag Paswan has not yet taken any decision on how to contest in the upcoming assembly elections.
According to sources, if Chirag separates from NDA and contests the assembly elections it could upset a chunk of his party members.
LJP has 6 Lok Sabha MPs out of which Mehboob Ali Kesar, Veena Devi, Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chandan Singh want the party to contest the assembly elections with NDA. If not they are likely to join Janata Dal-United (JDU).
The sources also say that JDU has already started 'Operation LJP' and top leaders are closely watching the LJP leaders who are angry.
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With Chirag Paswan wanting to split from Bihar NDA and contest assembly elections in 143 seats giving candidates against JDU in every seat, four of his party MPs are not happy.
These four MPs believe that separating from NDA will not do the party any good, however, if they fight with NDA they may be able to win more seats.
However, Chirag is hell-bent on contesting elections against Nitish and wants to give candidates against every seat of Nitish's.
This big decision may create a rift in the LJP. Even though Pashupati Paras is Chirag's uncle but if Chirag decides to break up with NDA Paras will not accept it.
It is because all these four MLAs have told their stand to Chirag clearly, he is not able to come up with a solid plan.
LJP national vice president and stalwart leader Surajbhan Singh also want LJP to contest assembly elections from Bihar NDA.
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Since LJP is unclear on its stand, the NDA's seat-sharing plan is also hanging by a thread. It is being said that the seat-sharing ratio would have been revealed on 24-25 May, where it would have been announced that BJP will get 122 seats from which some would be given to LJP. JDU would have gotten 121 seats and they would have shared it with Hindustani Aawam Morcha.
The tension between JDU and LJP has increased considerably with Chirag wanting to contest 43 seats in the assembly elections and his 'Bihar first Bihari first' vision to be included in the NDA manifesto.
In the 12 legislators that were to be nominated in the Legislative Council from Governor's quota, Chirag wanted 2 seats but could not reach an agreement on the issues with JDU.
Meanwhile, BJP is still engaged in persuading LJP and is also offering 30 seats but Chirag remains unconvinced.
