View source for Lok Janshakti Party

{{Short description|Defunct political party in India}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox Indian political party
|party_name         = Lok Janshakti Party
|party_logo         = Ljp.gif
|colorcode          = {{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}
|abbreviation       = LJP
|president          = 
|chairman           = 
|secretary          = 
|ppchairman         = 
|loksabha_leader    =  
|rajyasabha_leader  = 
|foundation         = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|p=y|2000|11|28}}
|founder            = [[Ram Vilas Paswan]]
|split              = [[Janata Dal]]
|alliance           = [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] {{small|(2000—2003, 2014-2021)}}<br/>[[United Progressive Alliance (India)|United Progressive Alliance]] {{small|(2004-14)}}<br/>Fourth Front (2009)
|ideology           = 
|dissolution        = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|p=y|2021|10|5}}
|successor          = {{bulleted list|[[Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party]]|[[Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)]]}}
|position           = [[Centrism|Centre]]
|symbol             = 
|predecessor        = 
|colours            = {{Color box|#0093DD|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|#DA231B|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|#3F9C35|border=darkgray}} [[Shades of blue|Blue]], [[Shades of red|red]] and [[Shades of green|green]]
|eci                = State Party
|headquarters=12, [[Janpath]], [[New Delhi]], [[India]] – 110011
|flag= [[File:Lok Janshakti Party Flag.svg|150px]] }}

The '''Lok Janshakti Party''' ('''LJP''', {{lit|People's Manpower Party}})<ref name="Elections.in 2019">{{cite web|title=Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) – Party History, Symbol, Founders, Election Results and News|website=Elections.in|date=2019-05-23|url=https://www.elections.in/political-parties-in-india/lok-jan-shakti-party.html|access-date=2021-05-04}}</ref> was a state [[political party]] mainly based in the state of [[Bihar]], [[India]]. The party was formed in 2000 when [[Ram Vilas Paswan]] split from [[Janata Dal]]. The party had a considerable following amongst [[Dalit (outcaste)|Dalits]] in Bihar. The party has split into two parties: [[Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-06|title=EC assigns new party names, symbols to warring LJP factions|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ec-assigns-new-party-names-symbols-to-warring-ljp-factions-101633458977010.html|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=दो हिस्सों में बंटी लोजपा: रामविलास पासवान की पार्टी के हुए दो टुकड़े, आयोग ने चुनाव चिह्न और नाम भी बदले|url=https://www.amarujala.com/bihar/election-commission-allot-name-chirag-lok-janshakti-party-ram-vilas-and-pashupati-kumar-paras-allotted-the-name-rashtriya-lok-janshakti-party|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Amar Ujala|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=चिराग पासवान की पार्टी का नाम होगा 'लोक जनशक्ति पार्टी (रामविलास)', अब 'हेलिकॉप्टर' के जरिए मांगेंगे वोट|url=https://www.tv9hindi.com/india/election-commission-chirag-paswan-pashupati-kumar-paras-lok-janshakti-party-ram-vilas-rashtriya-lok-janshakti-party-854998.html|access-date=2021-10-08|website=TV9 Bharatvarsh|language=hindi}}</ref> and [[Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Team|first=DNA Video|title=EC allots 'Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party' to Pashupati Paras {{!}} Latest News & Updates at DNAIndia.com|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/video-ec-allots-rashtriya-lok-janshakti-party-to-pashupati-paras-2914245|access-date=2021-10-08|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pashupati Paras welcomes EC's decision after LJP factions get new party name, symbol|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/pashupati-paras-welcomes-ecs-decision-after-ljp-factions-get-new-party-name-symbol20211005140801|access-date=2021-10-08|website=aninews.in|language=en}}</ref>

==History==

In 2000, late [[Ram Vilas Paswan]] formed the Lok Janshakti Party as its president. Along with Paswan, his brother, [[Ram Chandra Paswan]], Capt. [[Jai Narain Prasad Nishad]] and [[Ramesh Jigajinagi]] also joined the party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2000/11/28/stories/02280003.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411140144/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/yadav-stalled-rapproachement-says-paswan/article28056662.ece|title= Yadav stalled {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|rapproachement}}, says Paswan|url-status=dead|date=28 November 2000|archive-date=11 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2000/11/29/stories/01290007.htm Paswan launches party]{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2000/11/27/stories/0127000d.htm Janata Dal(U) splits]{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

LJP contested the polls in alliance with the [[Indian National Congress]] and the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] (RJD) and won four Lok Sabha seats. Ram Vilas Paswan remained a Union Minister in [[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)|Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]] and [[Ministry of Steel (India)|Ministry of Steel]].

In the [[February 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2005 Bihar assembly polls held in February]], the party contested in alliance with the Congress and against the RJD and won 29 assembly seats.<ref name=Judgment-rameshwarprasad /> However no alliance could secure majority and the party refused to support any alliance to form the Government. There were rumours that certain party MLAs were ready to defect to [[Janata Dal (United)]] (JD(U)) allowing the formation of an NDA Government. In a controversial episode, [[President's rule]] was imposed in the State and after a few months Bihar's state assembly was dissolved. Elections were again held in [[October 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|October 2005]] in which [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] came to power with a thumping majority with [[Nitish Kumar]] as the Chief Minister. The LPJ had fielded its candidates in 203 constituencies but could only win 10 seats.<ref name=Judgment-rameshwarprasad>{{cite web|title=Rameshwar Prasad & Ors Versus Union of India & Anr|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/511209/|publisher=Supreme Court of India|access-date=24 January 2006}}</ref><ref name=HINDU2005>{{cite news|title=Bihar comes under President's rule|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/08/stories/2005030807560100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050904164313/http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/08/stories/2005030807560100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2005|access-date=28 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 March 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Governor recommends President's rule in Bihar|url=http://www.rediff.com/election/2005/mar/06bihar.htm|access-date=28 February 2014|newspaper=Rediff|date=6 March 2005}}</ref>

The party contested the [[Indian general election in Bihar, 2009|2009 Lok Sabha General elections]] in an alliance called the [[2009 Indian general election#Fourth Front|Fourth Front]], which constituted the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]], Lok Janshakti Party and the [[Samajwadi Party]]. This move proved to be disastrous, since LJP couldn't win a single seat, and RJD were reduced to 4 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]. After the election [[Laloo Prasad Yadav]], admitted that it was a mistake to leave the UPA, and gave unconditional support to [[Manmohan Singh]] and the newly formed UPA government.

[[Jan Morcha]], the party founded by former Prime Minister [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]], merged with the LJP in March 2009. [[Jan Morcha]] president [[Ajeya Pratap Singh]], son of [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]], was immediately appointed a senior LJP functionary.<ref name=LJPJMmerger>{{cite news|last=Parsai|first=Gargi|title=Jan Morcha merges with LJP|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/07/stories/2009030760711200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310000827/http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/07/stories/2009030760711200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2009|access-date=28 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 March 2009}}</ref>

On the more disastrous side LJP suffered a major jolt when its entire [[Jharkhand]] unit merged with Congress before the 2009 elections, complaining that Paswan had ignored them. Paswan then announced the dissolution of the party's Jharkhand Unit.<ref>{{cite news|title=LJP's Jharkhand unit merges with Congress|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/01/stories/2009040155171000.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405184607/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/01/stories/2009040155171000.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 April 2009 |access-date=1 March 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=1 April 2009}}</ref>

In [[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]], the party had contested in an alliance with [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]. However party could secure only 6.75% votes winning only 3 seats which was 7 less than the previous elections in 2006.

In August 2011, there were claims made by the Speaker of the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] that the party had merged with [[JD(U)]] as 2 of the 3 MLAs of the party had joined [[JD(U)]]. However the party had denied any such move.<ref name=DB11>{{cite news|title=LJP denies merger with ruling JD-U in Bihar|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/BIH-ljp-denies-merger-with-ruling-jd-u-in-bihar-2353023.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912233730/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/BIH-ljp-denies-merger-with-ruling-jd-u-in-bihar-2353023.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2011|access-date=28 February 2014|newspaper=Dainik Bhaskar|date=13 August 2011}}</ref>

On 27 February 2014, Lok Janshakti Party officially announced it re-entering the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] led by [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], after a gap of 12 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Paswan-returns-to-NDA-formally-announces-alliance-with-BJP/articleshow/31119521.cms |title=Paswan returns to NDA, formally announces alliance with BJP |work=The Times of India |date=27 February 2014}}</ref> It contested 7 Lok Sabha seats from Bihar in the [[2014 Indian general election]].

LJP won 6 of the 7 seats it contested including [[Ram Vilas Paswan]] and his son [[Chirag Paswan]]. [[Ram Vilas Paswan]] resigned from his [[Rajya Sabha]] seat. He was also made Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the NDA government that came to power on 26 May 2014.

In the [[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]], the party contested in an alliance with [[BJP]]-led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]. It contested 40 seats out of 243 in the assembly. It won only two seats, one less than the last election in 2010.

In 2017, [[Pashupati Kumar Paras|Pashupati Paras]] brother of Ram Vilas was inducted into [[Nitish Kumar sixth ministry|Nitish Kumar cabinet]] as Minister of Animal & Fish Resources after [[Janata Dal (United)]] joined [[BJP]]-led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]].

==2020 Bihar Assembly Elections==
After the entry of Lok Janshakti Party in National Democratic Alliance in 2014, the NDA's principal parties in Bihar namely LJP, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and [[Rashtriya Lok Samta Party]] had contested against the JD(U) – [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]-[[Indian National Congress]] Mahagathbandhan alliance in 2015 and further until [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020 Bihar Assembly Election]]. On the question of seat sharing for the 2020 Assembly elections, the LJP under the presidency of [[Chirag Paswan]] decided to quit NDA and fight on 143 Assembly seats alone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/bihar-election/ljp-hints-at-manipur-model-for-upcoming-bihar-assembly-polls/story-bKBRPjAzd6p93BAZRR1viK_amp.html|title=Lok Janshakti Party to contest Bihar assembly polls alone|website=hindustan times|date=4 October 2020 |access-date=2020-10-05}}</ref> This turned out to be the single most important reason for the poor electoral performance of JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 November 2020|title=Explained: Bihar election results in 10 points |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/explained-bihar-election-results-in-10-points/articleshow/79148311.cms|access-date=2020-11-10|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The Quint reported, if LJP would have formed a pre poll alliance with BJP, [[National Democratic Alliance]] would have won additional 38 seats.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Menon |first1=Aditya |title=Bihar Results: Chirag Paswan's LJP May Have Cost NDA 39 Seats |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/chirag-paswan-ljp-jdu-bjp-rajendra-singh-bihar-assembly-election-results-2020 |website=Quint |date=11 November 2020 |access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref>

The parliamentary committee of LJP however decided to support BJP in and outside the state with the number of seats they win in the state while contesting solely. The move as per party leadership was to oppose JD(U) while allying with the BJP. The way for the party was not easy as it was to face a number of coalitions and political parties which were contesting the elections with their support bases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/ljp-wont-contest-under-nitish-kumars-leadership-in-bihar-say-party-sources/articleshow/78475953.cms|title=LJP won't contest assembly polls under Nitish Kumar's leadership in Bihar|website=The Times of India |date=4 October 2020 |access-date=2020-10-05}}</ref>

==Split in party==

===Background===

The series of dramatic events came months after the Bihar Assembly elections in October–November last year, in the run-up to which Chirag Paswan had attacked the JD(U) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and stepped out of the NDA, all along maintaining that he wanted to work with the BJP. The LJP had, however, fared poorly in the elections, with its lone MLA eventually crossing over to the JD(U).

===Crisis & Split===

The crisis started when [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]] took 4 MPs of the party along with him and named himself as the party president.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chirag Paswan's uncle Pashupati Paras elected Lok Janshakti Party chief|url=https://scroll.in/latest/997806/chirag-paswans-uncle-pashupati-paras-elected-lok-janshakti-party-chief|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Scroll.in|date=17 June 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> Then [[Chirag Paswan]] called a national executive meeting and removed the five rebel MPs from the party's primary membership.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Betrayal': Chirag Paswan expels 5 MPs as rebels remove him as party chief |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/bihar/article/chirag-paswan-removed-as-ljp-president-pashupati-kumar-paras/770978|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Times Now}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Chirag Paswan removed as LJP national president; ousted leader suspends five rebel MPs|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/chirag-paswan-removed-as-ljp-national-president-ousted-leader-suspends-five-rebel-mps-9719941.html|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Firstpost|date=15 June 2021|language=en}}</ref>

The five MPs named [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]] ([[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]), [[Mehboob Ali Kaiser|Mehboob Ali Qaisar]] ([[Khagaria Lok Sabha constituency|Khagaria]]), [[Chandan Singh (politician)|Chandan Singh]] ([[Nawada Lok Sabha constituency|Nawada]]), [[Veena Devi]] ([[Vaishali Lok Sabha constituency|Vaishali]]) and [[Prince Raj]] ([[Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency|Samastipur]]) met Lok Sabha Speaker [[Om Birla]] next day saying that they have elected Paras as LJP parliamentary party leader and Kaiser as deputy leader. Later that night, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a circular confirming Paras as leader of the LJP in the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pashupati Paras replaces Chirag Paswan as leader of LJP Parliamentary party in Lok Sabha|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pashupati-paras-replaces-chirag-paswan-as-leader-of-ljp-parliamentary-party-in-lok-sabha-1814802-2021-06-14|access-date=2021-10-08|website=India Today|date=14 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In his first reaction after his uncle Pashupati Paras ousted him, Paswan likened the organization to a mother who should not be ''betrayed''. In a tweet, he said he made efforts to keep the party founded by his father [[Ram Vilas Paswan]] and his family together but failed.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Party like mother, should not be betrayed|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/party-like-mother-should-not-be-betrayed-chirag-paswan/articleshow/83541004.cms|website=The Economic Times|language=en}}</ref>

[[Election Commission of India|ECI]] froze the Lok Janshakti Party name & Symbol ''Bungalow''<ref>{{Cite web|date=Oct 2, 2021|title=EC freezes LJP election symbol amid tiff between Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Paras factions|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ec-freezes-ljp-election-symbol-amid-tiff-between-chirag-paswan-pashupati-paras-factions/articleshow/86705224.cms|access-date=2021-10-07|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> and allotted [[Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)]] led by [[Chirag Paswan]] and [[Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party]] led by [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Paras-led LJP factions get new party names, poll symbols|url=https://zeenews.india.com/bihar/chirag-paswan-pashupati-paras-led-ljp-factions-get-new-party-names-poll-symbols-2399925.html|access-date=2021-10-07|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref>

===Aftermath===

People are supreme in a democracy, Paswan said and thanked those who have kept faith in the party.
Paswan also shared a letter he had written to Paras, the youngest brother of his father, in March in which he had highlighted his uncle's unhappiness over a number of issues, including his elevation as the party president.
==Elections Contested==
===General Elections===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+[[File:Lok Sabha.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert|100px]] [[Lok Sabha]] Elections
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Year
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Lok Sabha
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Seats contested
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Seats won
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|(+/-) in seats
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|% of votes
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Vote swing
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Popular vote
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Outcome
|-
|[[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
|[[14th Lok Sabha|14th]]
|8
|{{Composition bar|4|40|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{new}} 4
|8.19%
|{{new}}
|24,02,603
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2009 Indian general election|2009]]
|[[15th Lok Sabha|15th]]
|12
|{{Composition bar|0|40|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|6.54%
|{{decrease}} 1.65
|15,86,404
|{{partial|Others}}
|-
|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
|[[16th Lok Sabha|16th]]
|7
|{{Composition bar|6|40|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 6
|6.40%
|{{decrease}} 0.14
|22,95,929
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|[[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
|[[17th Lok Sabha|17th]]
|6
|{{Composition bar|6|40|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{Steady}}
|8.01%
|{{increase}} 1.61
|32,06,979
|{{yes2|Government}}
|-
|}

===Bihar Legislative Assembly===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+[[File:Seal of Bihar.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert|40px]] [[Bihar Legislative Assembly|Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections]]
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Year
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Assembly
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Seats contested
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Seats won
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|(+/-) in seats
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|% of votes
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Vote swing
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Popular vote
!style="background-color:#0093DD;color:white"|Outcome
|-
|[[February 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|Feb.<br>2005]]
|13th
|178
|{{Composition bar|29|243|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{new}} 29
|12.62%
|{{new}}
|30,91,173
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[October 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|Oct.<br>2005]]
|14th
|203
|{{Composition bar|10|243|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 19
|11.10%
|{{decrease}} 1.52
|26,15,901
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2010]]
|15th
|75
|{{Composition bar|3|243|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 7
|6.74%
|{{decrease}} 4.36
|19,57,232
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2015]]
|[[16th Bihar Assembly|16th]]
|42
|{{Composition bar|2|243|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|4.83%
|{{decrease}} 1.91
|18,40,834
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020]]
|[[17th Bihar Assembly|17th]]
|135
|{{Composition bar|1|243|{{party color|Lok Janshakti Party}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|5.66%
|{{increase}} 0.83
|23,83,739
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian political parties}}
{{National Democratic Alliance |state=collapsed}}

{{Janata Parivar parties}}

[[Category:Lok Janshakti Party| ]]
[[Category:State political parties in Bihar]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2000]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Bihar]]
[[Category:Political parties in India]]
[[Category:Janata Parivar]]
[[Category:Janata Dal]]