EC freezes LJP’s name & symbol till Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Paras settle dispute

PATNA: The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday banned the use of LJP’s name and election symbol, bungalow, and asked the rival factions, led by Jamui MP Chirag Paswan and his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, to furnish, by October 4, the names by which they may be recognized by the commission and the symbols which may be allotted to the candidates fielded, if any, by the respective groups in the bypolls for Tarapur and Kusheshwar Asthan assembly seats in Bihar, to be held on October 30.
In its interim order, the EC has directed both the groups to indicate the names of three free symbols so that any one of which may be allotted to their candidates. Both the groups have also been directed to submit, by November 5, their respective documents to support their claims for the substantive hearing on their dispute.
The EC directives must have upset Chirag, who has announced to field his party candidates against JD(U) in the bypolls for which October 8 is the last date for filing nomination. On the other hand, NDA leaders claim that Paras would campaign for the JD(U) candidates.
On June 14, Paras told the EC that he had been elected as the LJP leader in Parliament. On June 17, former MP Surajbhan Singh submitted that Paras had been elected as the LJP national president. Two days later, Paras informed the EC about the newly formed LJP national executive committee.