Chirag Paswan expected to be included in PM Modi’s cabinet, according to reports.

PATNA: BJP’s negotiations with Chirag Paswan for his return to the NDA have reached a crucial phase amid strong likelihood of Ram Vilas Paswan’s son being inducted in the Union council of ministers before the monsoon session of Parliament begins on July 20.

★A cabinet berth has been offered to Chirag Paswan and negotiations are being held for seat-sharing arrangements for the party in the Lok Sabha elections next year.
★LJP (RV) wants six Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, including Hajipur, and one berth in the Rajya Sabha.
★Chirag Paswan is likely to meet BJP president J P Nadda and home minister Amit Shah before the two parties reach a consensus.
★Chirag’s uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, who had split the LJP with five of its six Lok Sabha members in June 2021 and was made a Union minister, is likely to be a thorn in the flesh as both factions stake claim over Hajipur seat.
★Since Nitish Kumar now leads the Grand Alliance government with RJD and others, the saffron party needs a vocal and young leader like Chirag in Bihar to counter the JD(U) leader.
★Chirag will return to the NDA after a gap of nearly three years, although he had campaigned for BJP in bypolls to three assembly seats recently held in the state.
★Chirag’s return to the NDA will help the coalition to strengthen its grip on the 4% Paswan votes in Bihar. Paswans are the most aggressive voters among Dalits in the state and vote en bloc.
★Talks have also been going on for one seat each to Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM(S) and Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).
★In the 2014 general elections, the undivided LJP had won six out of the seven seats it contested. In 2019, LJP had a 100% strike rate, winning six seats.
★However, in the 2020 assembly polls, LJP could win only one seat and, later, its lone MLA joined JD(U).