Crucial Negotiations for Chirag Paswan’s Return to NDA
A day after junior home minister Nityanand Rai met Chirag in Patna, LJP (Ram Vilas)’s Bihar president Raju Tiwari told TOI on Monday that a cabinet berth was offered to Chirag and negotiations were being held for seat-sharing arrangements for the party in the Lok Sabha elections next year. Tiwari said LJP (RV) wants six Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, including Hajipur, and one berth in the Rajya Sabha.
Meetings With BJP President and Home Minister
“Chirag ji is likely to meet BJP president J P Nadda and home minister Amit Shah before the two parties reach a consensus,” he added.
Conflict Over Hajipur Seat
But 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, nursed and represented several times by party founder, the late Ram Vilas Paswan.
Importance of Chirag Paswan for BJP in Bihar
Since Nitish now leads the Grand Alliance government with RJD and others and is trying to unite non-BJP parties in the country against PM Narendra Modi, the saffron party needs a vocal and young leader like Chirag in Bihar to counter the JD(U) leader. If all goes well, 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. BJP won two of the three seats.
Seat-Sharing Arrangements
A senior Bihar BJP functionary conceded, “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.” He, however, added that any decision on seat-sharing at this stage would be premature. “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),” he said.
Recent Election Results for LJP
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).
Summary:
- BJP is negotiating with Chirag Paswan for his return to the NDA.
- A cabinet berth has been offered to Chirag, and seat-sharing arrangements are being discussed.
- Chirag may meet BJP president J P Nadda and home minister Amit Shah for further discussions.
- There is conflict over the Hajipur seat between Chirag Paswan and his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras.
- Chirag’s return to the NDA would strengthen the coalition’s hold on Paswan votes in Bihar.
- Talks are also underway for seat-sharing with HAM(S) and VIP.
- In the past elections, LJP had a strong performance but saw a decline in the 2020 assembly polls.
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