New Delhi: The discontent over seat sharing issue in Bihar among National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners doesn’t appear to end soon. Days after Rashtriya Lok Samata Party Upendra Kuhwaha announced his withdrawal of support from NDA, now Lok Janshakti Party’s (LJP) leader and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan has warned the Bhartiya Janta Party leadership to act immediately and resolve the seat sharing in time.
In a tweet, Chirag Paswan said, “Numerous meetings have been held with BJP leaders over seat sharing in the alliance. However, no concrete decision has yet been made. If a timely decision is not taken in this matter, then it could be damaging.”
In a series of tweets, son of Ramvilas Paswan, Chirag who represents the Bihar’s Jamui parliamentary constituency indicated his dissatisfaction with BJP leadership and hinted towards that everything is not okay within NDA in Bihar.
“After the exit of TDP and RLSP, the NDA is going through a sensitive phase. The BJP should act on the issues of other allies and resolve them in a respectful manner before it’s too late,” Chirag Tweeted.
It is important to note that LJP was part of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) before joining hands with BJP led NDA in 2014. In the Modi wave of 2014 Lok Sabha, LJP won six out of seven Lok Sabha seats.
It is to be noted that after Nitish Kumar’s homecoming to NDA in 2017, LJP was also offered a ministerial position in Nitish Kumar led NDA government in Bihar as well.
Bihar: NDA finalises Lok Sabha seat-sharing formula for state
Jinx of Makar Sankranti:
A source close to Ram Vilas Paswan told Newsd that any decision to be with NDA or anything is likely to be taken next year after ‘Makar Sankranti’.
Source in the name of anonymity said, “Paswanji is known for taking his decisions in the auspicious month of January specially after organising the feast of ‘Dahi-Chura’(beaten rice flakes with yogurt) and ‘Tilkut’. He has done the same thing in the past and most likely this is going to happen again. Anything to say at this moment will be in haste.”
Earlier this year on the eve of ‘Makar Sankranti’ top NDA ally’s leadership gathered at the residence of Ram Vilas Paswan. He had accepted his mistake of not supporting NDA in 2005 when Bihar state election threw up a hung assembly and said that if they would have supported NDA then the politics of Bihar could have taken a different shape.
Paswan had been organising Makar Sankranti festival for a long time, PM Narendra Modi also attended this event in 2015. The high profile event was also attended by senior BJP leader LK Advani, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Prakash Javadekar, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Kalraj Mishra and others.
RLSP legislators rebel, say they are still with NDA
Paswan had left the NDA and resigned from Vajpayee government after the Gujarat riots in 2002. LJP was part of Congress led UPA from 2004 to 2009 and he was made a Cabinet Minister at the Centre.
Congress welcomes Ram Vilas Paswan’s move, says Shaktisinh Gohil
As per reports, LJP Chief had decided to join NDA during the 2014 Makar Sankranti only. It was then only when LJP supremo had softened his stand on Narendra Modi and BJP over communalism.
Chirag Paswan, his son, who was heading the LJP parliamentary board told reporters that if the court has given a clean chit to Narendra Modi for his alleged involvement in 2002 riots case, it is not an issue for his party.
The decision to join the BJP led NDA was very fruitful for LJP which was without any representation in the Lok Sabha, the party did not win any seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Nitish proposes new, impossible seat sharing formula to BJP
Keeping the above incidents which involve Ram Vilas Paswan decision making now political analysts are forced to re analyse the new chemistry post RLSP break away with NDA. Makar Sankranti is due in next year on January. Recent tweets by Chirag Paswan has given an indication of new possibility before his party LJP ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
However, BJP and JDU have announced that there is no issue over the seat sharing formula in Bihar among NDA partners. Lok Janshaktio Party has made it clear that they won’t accept ‘dishonourable’ seat sharing arrangements. Latest development indicates that NDA allies can play spoilsport ahead of 2019 General Election in Bihar.
Also read:
Family feud in LJP: Anil Sadhu to fight against father-in-law Ram Vilas Paswan
Bihar: Blow to BJP, Upendra Kushwaha rejects Amit Shah’ 20-20 seat sharing formula
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