RJD ‘all well’, claims leader

Patna: RJD leader Rajendra Paswan for whom party chief Lalu Prasad’s elder son and former health minister Tej Pratap had accused state party chief Ram Chandra Purbey of deliberately ignoring him, on Sunday claimed that there were no differences in the party over his appointment as state general secretary.

Paswan said: “The differences within the party’s senior leadership over my appointment as state general secretary is nothing but media-made. There was some misunderstanding within the party over my appointment but all such differences have been cleared.”

Early in June, Tej Pratap had accused the party’s state chief and Lalu’s trusted aide Ram Chandra Purbey of deliberately ignoring him and the party’s youth leadership, as he was miffed over his close aide Rajendra Paswan not being appointed as RJD’s state general secretary.

Tej Pratap had said if Dalits weren’t given representation, how could the party be strengthened. Rajendra, who had joined the RJD two years ago, said: “I have respect for all senior leaders who have given me such a huge responsibility.”

Rajendra is eyeing to contest from Hajipur on an RJD ticket. Paswan said: “I am willing to contest from the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat on an RJD ticket against Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan if the party gives me the ticket. I had left the LJP as Ram Vilas Paswan’s politics revolves around his family members.”

Before joining the RJD, Rajendra was with different parties, including the LJP for more than five years. In 2009, he contested from the Buxar Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent and in 2010, he had contested from Rajpur Assembly seat as JD(Secular) party candidate.

Rajendra, who runs hospitals in Varanasi and Ghazipur districts in Uttar Pradesh, is said to be a dhankuber (those having deep pockets).

Rajendra’s appointment as the RJD state general secretary assumes importance as he has been appointed as state general secretary when the part is yet to make organisational appointments for different posts.

Courtesy: The Telegraph