Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras tendered his resignation on Tuesday, citing what he termed as "injustice" perpetrated by the BJP against his party, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, by excluding it from the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.
Paras's decision came to light during a press conference held a day after the BJP-led NDA unveiled its seat-sharing agreement, allocating five seats to the faction led by Chirag Paswan, disregarding claims made by Paras's group.
During the press briefing, Paras briefly mentioned his resignation without delving into his future plans. Despite stepping down, he acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a significant leader, expressing gratitude towards him while simultaneously voicing his discontent over the treatment received.
He lamented the perceived injustice towards his party and himself within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), emphasizing his track record of serving with integrity and allegiance.
Although Paras refrained from directly criticizing the BJP or its leaders, he continued using the suffix "Modi Ka Parivaar" to his name, a term coined by BJP supporters to demonstrate support for the Prime Minister.
Sources within the BJP hinted at the party's willingness to accommodate Paras in a respectable manner, albeit not by accommodating other MPs from his party. However, Paras displayed eagerness to contest elections, indicating a potential alliance with opposition parties.
The RLJP spokesperson, Shravan Agarwal, disclosed that party leaders would convene soon to chart their next steps, affirming Paras's intention to contest elections.
Despite enjoying support from five out of six Lok Sabha MPs from the LJP previously, none of them joined Paras at the press conference. Speculation suggests they are exploring alliances with other parties, including Chirag Paswan's faction, for the upcoming polls.
Paras may explore collaborating with the opposition alliance led by Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar, particularly to contest against his nephew, Chirag Paswan, in the Hajipur seat, which holds significance as a stronghold of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. Paras currently represents Hajipur in the outgoing Lok Sabha.
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