War of words intensifies between Lalu, Paswan

The war of words intensified between friend-turned foes Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan as campaign for the bypoll gathers pace with the former assailing latter as "ungrateful", evoking a sharp response from Paswan in return calling the RJD chief as "expert of jails."
Addressing a rally at Bhagalpur, Lalu Prasad moved further from his snide remarks against the LJP chief as "weathercock" and called him "ehsanfaramosh" (ungrateful).
"I helped him when he was literally on the street (after loss in 2009 Lok Sabha poll) and sent him to Delhi (as Rajya Sabha member on the basis of strength of RJD MLAs) and see what he did in return (joined hands with BJP for power)," Prasad said.

Lalu, who has joined hands with rival Nitish Kumar to defeat BJP-led NDA alliance in the bypoll, asked people to teach Paswan and NDA a lesson for "unprincipled politics".
The LJP chief retorted and described him as "expert of jails."
"If I am a weather scientist and weathercock he (Prasad) should be called 'expert of jails'," the LJP chief and Union Food Minister told reporters at Patna Airport before setting out for campaign in the bypoll.

Paswan's jibe on Prasad was to highlight his imprisonments in fodder scam cases. His recent conviction in a fodder scam case in Ranchi debarred the RJD chief from contesting election for 11 year.

Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi while addressing a rally at Madhubani in bypoll on Rajnagar (SC) seat, termed Paswan as an "opportunist".
State minister for Food Shyam Rajak charged Paswan for doing politics in the name of dalits to promote his family's interest.
"His family members are occupying all important posts in LJP and other organisations run by him in the name of dalits," Rajak said.
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) President and Union Minister of State Upendra Kushwaha also joined Paswan in attacking his former leader Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad.