Big setback for Ram Vilas Paswan as LJP splits in Bihar, rebel leaders form new party

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has split with senior leader and party’s national general secretary Satyanand Sharma along with over 100 party office-bearers resigning and forming a new party - the LJP (Secular).

According to reports, Sharma has resigned protesting against Paswan’s style of functioning and announced formation of new party - LJP (Secular).

He also accused the Union Minister of promoting only his family members in the party and said the LJP has been turned into a family fiefdom of Paswan.

"Paswan's family has been dominating over the party, there is no internal democracy in the party," Sharma, who was accompanied by party national secretary Surendra Chaudhary, treasurer Ramesh Chandra Kapoor, state party general secretary and spokesperson Vishnu Paswan and national general secretary of youth wing of LJP Anil Kumar Paswan and other leaders, told media persons.

He also alleged that leaders secured party tickets in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by coughing up hefty money.

LJP, an ally of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Center, won all the six seats it contested in the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. Of its six MPs, three are family members of Paswan - his son and two younger brothers.