Patna: All is not well with the state LJP unit. The party which is on an expansion plan, strengthening its base for general elections is facing rebellion from within.
On Tuesday, LJP district President Abhishek Kumar Singh, along with other office-bearers, resigned from party posts protesting against LJP parliamentary board chairman Chirag Paswan's "attitude". On Tuesday, the LJP had convened a workers meeting at Siwan town hall. When Chirag who is also the Jamui MP reached the town hall, he lost his cool on seeing empty chairs and scolded the party's Siwan district president Abhishek Singh for not making proper preparations.
Chirag allegedly said he had travelled 22 districts but in Siwan he witnessed a poor response. Chirag left the venue, threatening that he will raise the issue with party state president Pashupati Kumar Paras who is Chirag's uncle.
However, after Chirag left the venue, the LJP workers at the spot raised slogans against Chirag and other party leaders. Later, Abhishek Singh and other LJP office-bearers tendered resignations. However, the state LJP unit termed the incident as "a matter blown out of proportion".
LJP spokesperson Ashraf Ansari said: "Abhishek was not performing his duty properly and he was set to be removed from the party post. As Abhishek knew he will be removed from the district president post, he tendered his resignation to gain sympathy."
Sources said there are some senior leaders within the LJP who are not happy with the leadership's functioning. At a convention held at Rajgir last month, three leaders, including Vaishali MP Rama Kishore Singh, Mahboob Ali Kaiser, MP of Khagaria and party leader and husband of Munger MP Veena Devi, Surajbhan Singh, were absent.
A senior LJP leader said: "Many senior leaders are upset with the style of functioning of the state leadership. The state LJP leadership lacks coordination with senior leaders of the party." He also said: "With the JDU joining NDA, many sitting MPs fear that they will not get tickets as in any case the BJP is not going to give seven seats to the LJP in next general election."
