Opposition desperate over VVPAT issue: Ram Vilas Paswan

A day after Opposition leader Upendra Kushwaha's remarks that “blood will spill on the streets” if there is any manipulation in the election results, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday sent out a tough message to the Opposition parties warning them against making any effort to vitiate the atmosphere.

“Whatever grievances they have with regard to the EVMs, they should bring them before the election commission and accept the poll panel's decision on the issue. Any effort to vitiate the atmosphere after the declaration of results will not be tolerated. We have also instructed our party workers not to remain defensive,“ Paswan warned the Opposition while addressing a press conference.

Taking serious exception to the remarks of Kushwaha who was a minister in the NDA government till a few months back, Paswan said that Opposition parties were raising the issue of EVM manipulation because of their “eminent defeat” in the elections.

“They are raising this issue because they want to re-enforce 'jangal raj' in Bihar and bring back the era of booth capturing in the State. While they talk about protecting the Constitution, they themselves are launching attack on the Constitution. If anyone tries to end the democracy, it will not be tolerate,” he added.

Kushwaha's party, RLSP and Paswan's party LJP—both are Bihar based. Kushwaha walked out of the NDA following differences over seat sharing and joined the Mahagathbandhan of the RJD and the Congress before elections.

Paswan also batted for his son Chirag Paswan's induction into the Union council of ministers and heaped lavish praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi' leadership for “the spectacular show” of the NDA as predicted by the exit polls.

“Chirag has all the required leadership qualities that no other young leader has today. All others are like bubbles. Which father would not like to see his son grow bigger than him? But, let the results of the elections come first,” he told reporters at a press conference when asked if he (Paswan) was hoping to get a berth in the council of ministers once again if the NDA forms it's government.

Paswan, an eight-time MP who did not contest the Lok Sabha elections this time, is set to be filing nomination for Rajya Sabha from Assam this week.

The BJP had promised him a Rajya Sabha seat “at the earliest opportunity” while finalising the NDA's seat sharing formula for Bihar.