Will contest LS polls from Hajipur, says Pashupati Kumar Paras, rejecting Chirag Paswan's claim

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Paras on Saturday said he will contest the next Lok Sabha polls from Hajipur, rebuffing his nephew Chirag Paswan who has staked claim on late father Ram Vilas Paswan's constituency. Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of his Rashtriya Lok Janashakti Party here, Paras expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA will back his claim on the seat and not that of Chirag who was «yet to become a part» of the coalition.

«I am a part of the NDA and there are no doubts about that. On the other hand, Chirag may have attended the NDA meet in Delhi but was not invited to the meeting of the alliance's MPs convened inside Parliament.

This says it all,» said Paras. He also said, «I must debunk speculations of a thaw with Chirag which have arisen following photographs of him touching my feet, in Delhi, and me offering him my blessings.

That is a part of the culture of Bihar and of the Mithila region to which we belong.» Paras, who is now 71 years old, also rubbished reports in a section of the media that he might take the Rajya Sabha route, like his late brother did in the final phase of his life, or settle down for a gubernatorial post, which would end the stalemate with his nephew. «No power on earth can stop me from contesting Hajipur in the next elections.

All such reports which say otherwise are like the noises made by frogs during the rainy season. You may hear these since it is an election year but there is no substance in such stories.» When it was pointed out that Chirag has been staking his claim on Hajipur, calling it the «karmabhoomi» of his late father who had nurtured the seat over decades, Paras snapped «late Paswan was my brother, too.» «Chirag should remember that I was never willing to fight the Lok Sabha