Waiting for BJP’s offer; will meet Amit Shah soon: Chirag Paswan

LJP national president Chirag Paswan in a conversation with TOI’s Piyush Tripathi made it clear that no seat-sharing talks have been held between his party and either JD(U) or BJP. He revealed that he is likely to meet Union home minister Amit Shah in a few days to discuss all issues related to Bihar assembly election. On his attacks on CM Nitish Kumar’s government, he said, it’s never personal, he only raises people’s issues. Excerpts:
BJP national president J P Nadda said in Patna on Friday that BJP, JD(U) and LJP will fight the assembly election together. Nadda also met Nitish on Saturday morning. Your take?
I don’t have anything to comment on what BJP is saying on fighting the elections together or their meeting with Nitish. I can only say anything after I know what is their offer for LJP. As of now, there have been no talks in this regard.
Have seat-sharing arrangements in the NDA been disused with LJP?
Neither BJP nor JD(U) has held any seat-sharing talks with LJP. I had a telephonic conversation with senior BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday and he said he would meet me in a few days to discuss important issues.
What is your current stand on JD (U) and Nitish Kumar?
I have no issues with Nitish Ji, nor have I ever made any personal remarks against him. Whenever I have said anything on Bihar or related to the state government, it has always been related to people’s issues and as a party representing the masses, we have to bring such issues to the attention of the government. My comments could have been taken positively as well.
Your party members appealed to you at the state parliamentary board meeting held earlier this week to field candidates on 143 seats, including a few seats being contested by JD (U). Later JD (U) said it was never in alliance with LJP. Where do things stand now?
Deliberations held at a parliamentary board meeting are internal affairs of the party. Our party has shortlisted 94 candidates for Bihar elections and if fewer seats are allocated to us, then there will definitely have some issues and I am also answerable to my party men. Nevertheless, I would wait for BJP’s offer and any decision taken by the national parliamentary board of the party will be announced accordingly.
As a young politician, you have every right to express your views as a modern and educated politician. But don’t you think allies should follow coalition dharma and you could have discussed your grievances internally in the NDA? Did you ever discuss issues with your primary partner BJP?
I have always discussed issues with BJP. However, lately, there has been no communication with Nitish Ji. He never took my phone calls, nor replied to my letters nor given time to me for a one-to-one meeting. In such a scenario, I was left with no choice but to express the issues related to people’s interest in public.
And as far as coalition dharma is concerned, then wasn’t it applicable when Nitish Ji vehemently opposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) introduced by the NDA government as well as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and even got a resolution passed against it in the Bihar Legislative Assembly?
What is your stand on the induction of former Bihar CM and HAM (S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi in the NDA?
I have huge respect for Manjhi Ji, he is like a family member to us. He does say a few things critical to me, but I guess our seniors have the right to be strict at times.
Your father Ram Vilas Paswan in a tweet on Friday extended full support to you. Given that this will be the first assembly election for LJP under your leadership, what is your aspiration for the party?
It is always great to have the support of one’s father. He keeps telling me I took the right decisions for the party in 2014 and 2019 general elections. I want LJP to work for Bihar and issues concerning people of the state. I want our ‘Bihar First, Bihari First’ vision document to be incorporated in the common minimum programme of the NDA. However, if the CM is adamant on superimposing his programmes on the entire NDA then there will be issues.
One final question, your father has been at the Centre for years now. What is your preference- Centre or state?
The state; I see myself in Bihar in the near future.