Bihar's political temperature rises as Chirag Paswan meets Tejashwi Yadav
What's the story
Bihar's political temperature rose by a few notches on Wednesday as Lok Janshakti Party MP Chirag Paswan met RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in Patna to invite the latter to an event marking his father Ram Vilas Paswan's first death anniversary a few days later. Politicians and pundits speculate a strong possibility of their coming together.
Meeting
Meeting was a result of family relations, the leaders said
However, the two young leaders told prying journalists that their meeting was a result of "family relations" that went back to ties shared by their fathers. "I still remember having learned some of my early lessons in managing an election campaign from late Ram Vilas Paswan in the assembly polls of 2010 which he had fought along with my father Lalu Prasad," Tejashwi said.
Imprisonment
Lalu Prasad's imprisonment prevented me from attending Paswan's funeral: Tejashwi
"Chirag said that he is scheduled to meet Lalu ji at Delhi tomorrow. If father's health permits, he may even come down to Patna to attend the barkhi (function held upon one year of death)," the RJD leader said. He said that Lalu Prasad's imprisonment, besides poor health, prevented him from attending Paswan's funeral last year.
Information
Prasad was released from jail earlier this year
Convicted in several fodder scam cases, Prasad was released from jail earlier this year upon obtaining bail from the Jharkhand High Court. He has since been convalescing in the national capital, occasionally interacting with party workers through video conferencing.
Contention
Chirag was cornered in his own party by his uncle
Tejashwi was also asked about his contention that Chirag, who has been cornered in his own party following a split engineered by uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, should consider crossing over to the Grand Alliance headed by RJD. "Nothing remains to be said by me when Lalu ji himself has expressed the wish that both of us come together," quipped Tejashwi, while Chirag smiled cryptically.
Politics
Today's meeting has nothing to do with politics: Chirag
"I must make it clear that today's meeting between me and Tejashwi bhai has nothing to do with politics. Had my father been alive, he would have liked Lalu ji and his family to be a part of any function taking place in my family," Chirag said. Paswan's barkhi is to be held at the late Union minister's residence in Patna on September 12.
Information
Chirag had on Tuesday shared screenshots of the invitation cards
Chirag had on Tuesday shared screenshots of the invitation cards printed for the occasion. The names of Paras and cousin Prince Raj, both of whom have turned their backs on him and sought to remain in the NDA, figured among the RSVP.