Snubbed by BJP, Chirag Paswan says: 'I am Modi Ji's Hanuman. He lives in my heart'

" I don't need to use Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pictures in my election campaign. I was with him, and I am still with him and remain so in future. There has been some controversy over  his image. I don't need to use his photos. He stays in my heart. I am his Hanuman. Much like Hanuman, if needed, you can rip apart my heart and you will find only Modi ji," Chirag Paswan, 37, declared dramatically while speaking to reporters.

His comments on using PM Modi's photo in election campaign came after Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said the BJP may lodge a complaint with the Election Commision if any party, other than those in NDA, uses the PM's photos for campaigning for the Bihar elections.

Taking a dig at Nitish Kumar, Paswan said it is Nitish Kumar who needs to use the PM's photos more as he is insecure. "He is the one who repeatedly opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over triple talaq, article 370, CAA and NRC, and, therefore, it is he who needs to use the PM's image and share the stage with him," said Paswan, who is in mourning after his father and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan's death last week.

"I am with BJP... and just like Centre, LJP will form a BJP-led government in Bihar after November 10, which will be a double-engine government in true sense," he added.

Paswan said Nitish Kumar has not expressed condolence on his father's death even once.

When Ramvilas Paswan's body was flown to Patna from Delhi, Nitish Kumar was present in the airport to pay his tribute, but ignored him when he touched his feet.

"Everyone met me and my mother and condoled his death. The Chief Minister has not said one word since papa died. The PM spoke to me on the phone the day he died and came the next day. He kept his hands on my shoulder for a long time…I still remember his reassuring words," said Paswan, reported NDTV.

"Ïn the assembly he did not even look me in the eyes. And at a tribute meeting later, I went to him with folded hands, I became a little emotional...yet Nitish Kumar was unmoved. He still said nothing," said the LJP leader, the report added.

BJP,  which is caught between two fighting allies LJP and JD (U),  decided to side with the latter, after which Chirag Paswan decided to walk away from the alliance.

Reacting to LJP chief's criticism of JD (U) while vowing to stay with BJP, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Friday said, "Chirag Paswan has chosen a separate path in Bihar; he is trying to mislead people by taking the names of senior BJP leaders. We don't have any B or C team. NDA will get a three-fourth majority. Chirag's party will be left as a vote-cutter party," reported NDTV.