Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras tendered his resignation on March 19, citing “injustice” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) towards his Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) in Bihar’s seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Paras accused the BJP of sidelining the RLJP by not including it in the seat-sharing deal with allies, despite the RLJP being a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The announcement came a day after the NDA revealed its seat-sharing pact, allocating five seats to Paras’s nephew, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). Paras hinted at a potential move to the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and expressed his intention to contest the Lok Sabha election from Hajipur, a reserved seat where he currently serves as the sitting MP.
Addressing the media in Delhi, Paras expressed his disappointment over the treatment meted out to the RLJP, stating, “My party and I faced injustice.” He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister but asserted that he could no longer continue as a Minister in the Union cabinet in light of the circumstances.
Amid speculation about his next steps, Paras stated that his future course of action would be decided after consultations with party leaders and workers. Reports suggest that he may align with the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance bloc in Bihar and contest against his nephew, Chirag Paswan, from the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat.
The RLJP witnessed internal strife following the demise of LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan in 2020, culminating in a split in June 2021 when Paras, along with four other MPs, exited the party. The RLJP, in its undivided form, had secured six Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 General Elections, marking a significant political presence in Bihar.
