Paras Quits Modi Cabinet Amid Bihar Seat- Sharing Finalisation: Cries ‘Injustice’ as NDA, Chirag Strike Deal

Patna: Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras tendered his resignation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet on Tuesday, citing grievances over his party’s exclusion from seat allocations for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. This move follows the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) decision to allocate seats to his nephew, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Bihar.

Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Paras voiced his discontent, stating, “Yesterday, the NDA announced the list of 40 candidates for Bihar Lok Sabha… Our party had five MPs and I worked with utmost sincerity… Injustice has been done with us and our party. Therefore, I resign from the post of Union minister.”

Paras, while acknowledging Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, expressed gratitude but emphasized the unfair treatment received by his faction within the alliance. However, he refrained from disclosing his future plans.

The NDA’s finalized seat-sharing formula allocates 17 constituencies to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 16 to the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], and five to Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas), disregarding claims from Paras’ faction of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

Vinod Tawde, the BJP’s Bihar incharge, unveiled the allocation details at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, affirming that the BJP’s increased seat count signifies a shift in dynamics within the alliance, with JD(U) securing fewer seats than the BJP for the first time in Bihar’s electoral history.

Tawde exuded confidence in the NDA’s prospects, anticipating victory in all 40 constituencies. He stated, “The BJP will contest 17 out of the total 40 seats and the JD(U) will contest 16. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest five seats,” during a joint presser attended by NDA allies.