Lalu's emissary meeting Chirag Paswan a clear indication of proximity

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's emissary meeting LJP's Chirag Paswan has sent a clear message that in days to come both will come under one umbrella. Shyam Rajak, the senior leader of the RJD recently met Jamui MP Chirag Paswan, giving speculation of an alliance between the two parties, writes ETV Bharat Bihar Bureau Chief Amit Bhelari.

Patna: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's emissary meeting LJP's Chirag Paswan is hinting about a huge political development in the state where both of them might share a common platform. Senior leader from the RJD, Shyam Rajak, recently met Jamui MP Chirag Paswan who is presently engaged in a bitter legal battle with his uncle to claim the presidency of Lok Janshakti Party, founded by his father late Ram Vilas Paswan. After BJP gave Chirag the cold shoulder it was for the first time that a leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal had met him at his Delhi residence. The day Chirag's uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras was inducted into the Union cabinet, it was clear that Chirag was out of the NDA fold.

Though Shyam Rajak, a close confidante of Lalu Prasad Yadav, termed it a personal visit, RJD insiders reveal that the former minister visited Chirag's residence with a message from Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav asking Chirag to join their ranks. In fact, after the meeting, Chirag spoke to Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav over the phone.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of Bihar politics which is currently going through a bumpy ride when all is not well in the NDA itself. A seasoned politician like Lalu seems to be maneuvering in the background to take advantage of the situation.

Tejashwi who is currently leading the party has already given an invitation to Chirag to join the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. Tejashwi had categorically said that it was up to Chirag to decide whether he wanted to be with the forces who follow the ideology of M S Golwalkar or to join those who follow the ideology of B R Ambedkar.

RJD's sympathy towards Chirag was evident after the latter was removed from the post of LJP President by his uncle and cousin Prince Raj. On Saturday, Chirag had to leave his ongoing Aashirvad Yatra midway and return to Delhi after his petition challenging the appointment of Paras as the leader of LJP in Lok Sabha was rejected by Delhi High Court.

"It was a courtesy meeting with Chirag because ever since Ram Vilas Ji passed away, I haven't met the family. So I visited his residence to pay my tribute to his family. It was not a political meeting but yes Chirag is the leader who will retain the legacy of Ram Vilas Ji and he will come with the forces who follow B R Ambedkar,” Shyam Rajak told ETV Bharat.

Chirag's father and Tejashwi's father were once the biggest political rivals and never missed an opportunity to criticise each other. It was Lalu who had coined the name of senior Paswan as 'Mausam Vaigyanik' as the Dalit leader had the great nose of smelling the winning side in politics. It was this political acumen that made senior Paswan having a record of being a central minister in almost every government from 1989 to 2020.

However, after the coup in LJP, Chirag Paswan is desperately looking for support from someone who can back him in his fight. Political observers opined that RJD has taken this step with much thought and introspection because Lalu knows very well that even though Paras has the MPs on his side, the sentiment of the Paswan community remains with Chirag.

In the last assembly poll, Chirag alone managed to bag 25 lakh votes. If those votes shift to the RJD it would be a formidable alliance. RJD already has a strong presence among Muslims and Yadavs (around 30 per cent of the electorate) and in the 2020 assembly election, even the upper castes also voted for Mahagathbandhan. With this move, RJD would also be able to consolidate the Dalit votes for the future elections.

Rajak meeting with Chirag is also important because, in the next few months, Bihar will go for a by-poll in two assembly constituencies, Tarapur and Kusheswar Sthan. In the last assembly polls, LJP candidates had performed well. So the joint candidate of RJD and Chirag Paswan can do magic at these seats. The two seats which were occupied by JDU fell vacant after the death of MLAs Mewalal Choudhary and Shashi Bhushan Hazari.