Nitish Kumar government will fall in a year, claims Ram Vilas Paswan

PATNA: Union minister and LJP boss Ram Vilas Paswan has predicted the Nitish Kumar government would fall within a year owing to a bitter battle for supremacy between RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Nitish.

Paswan claimed Lalu and Nitish have always opposed each other and their differences have started cropping up within days of formation of the new government. "I am sure the government will not continue for long and midterm polls will be foisted on Bihar due to the conflict between Lalu and Nitish," Paswan said on Saturday after reviewing the poor performance of LJP candidates in the just-concluded assembly polls.

Claiming that 'jungle raj' has returned to Bihar, Paswan said not only MLAs but even people having connection with ruling politicians have started flexing muscle. "The days are not far when the law and order situation will go out of control and law-enforcing agencies will remain mute spectators," said Paswan. He was referring to a case filed by a police officer against a JD (U) MLA for allegedly intimidating him in Bhagalpur.

Talking about LJP plans to strengthen its presence at the grassroots level in the wake of recent debacle of the party in assembly election, he said most candidates lost but the party's vote share increased. The LJP, which was part of the BJP-led NDA, contested 42 seats but won only two of them.

"Compared to the last assembly polls, our party got 10 lakh more votes. Many of our candidates got more than 50,000 votes but lost the election. We will review the reasons behind the defeat and start working for strengthening the party at the grassroots level in all the assembly constituencies," said Paswan.

He said his son and party MP Chirag Paswan would tour the state after Holi next year and interact with party workers and common man.

On the recent decision of Nitish government to ban liquor from April next year, Paswan said it is a welcome step.