Decided to campaign for BJP on Amit Shah’s request: Chirag Paswan

PATNA: Jamui MP and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Sunday announced that he would campaign for the BJP candidates in the ensuing bypolls to Gopalganj and Mokama assembly seats in the state.
Chirag told reporters at Patna airport that he decided to support the BJP candidates following a “long” meeting with senior BJP functionary and Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday.
“Senior BJP functionaries have been in talks with me for quite some time. Union home minister for state Nityanand Rai has also been in constant touch with me. Finally, following the long meeting with Shahji on Saturday, it has been decided that our party will support BJP candidates and I would campaign in their favour. The bypolls will set the tone for upcoming general and state elections,” Chirag said.
Incidentally, BJP state president Dr Sanjay Jaiswal had said in a press briefing at the party headquarters at Patna on Friday that Chirag will campaign in favour of BJP candidates. However, no confirmation had come from Chirag’s party.
On being asked whether it can be said that he has returned to NDA, Chirag said, “As of now, the talks have been held only for bypolls. The future course of action will depend on further dialogues with BJP leaders.”
Earlier this month, a resolution was taken in a meeting of national executive of LJP (Ram Vilas) that the party will oppose the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar led by chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
Chirag has been staunch critic of Nitish. Even on Saturday, he cited Nitish as the reason behind his decision to support BJP in bypolls. “By policy, we are against Nitish as he is the biggest cause for backwardness of Bihar. My decision is for betterment of the state.”