Sons of Lalu, Paswan engage in war of words

After RJD chief Lalu Prasad and union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, it is now the turn of their sons to indulge in a war of words to generate more political heat in the run-up to the Bihar assembly polls.

A day after Ram Vilas Paswan's son Chirag said that the sons of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi - Tej Pratap and Tejaswi Yadav - registered their ages as per their own free will due to the jungle raj prevailing during the 15-year rule of Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar, Lalu's younger son Tejaswi Yadav hit back at Lok Janshakti Party MP Chirag on Thursday.

Tejaswi, contesting assembly polls for the first time from Raghopur, dared Chirag Paswan to first reveal the name of the wife of Ram Vilas Paswan mentioned in his poll affidavit. "Before pointing fingers at us, Chirag should reveal the name of Paswan's wife given in his affidavit," Tejaswi said.

Taking a dig at the two sons of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Chirag Paswan said there was confusion about whom he should address as big brother and whom younger brother.

Lalu's elder son Tej Pratap allegedly mentioned his age as 25 years in his nomination papers filed on Monday for Mahua seat in Vaishali district. Last week, his younger brother Tejaswi Yadav's nomination papers reportedly declared he was 26 years of age.

In the past, union minister Paswan has dubbed former chief minister Lalu Prasad as an "expired medicine" and one who has lost his social support base, while the RJD leader has described Lok Janshakti Party leader as 'mausam vigyani' for changing sides as per the prevailing circumstances to enjoy political power.