Bihar: Pashupati Paras resigns as Union Minister after sidelined by BJP

Patna: A day after being sidelined by BJP in seat sharing among constituents of NDA for Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, RLJP President Pashupati Kumar Paras on Tuesday resigned as union minister from Narendra Modi cabinet.

Paras peeved over being ignored by BJP in seat sharing for Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, announced his resignation as Union Minister from Narendra Modi's cabinet. He was deeply upset over not being done justice to his party in seat sharing, he remarked.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a leader of great stature who allowed me to serve as Minister in his cabinet", RLJP President said adding that there was no reason for him to continue in cabinet after being ignored in seat sharing. He, however, refused to divulge his next move after being ignored by the BJP.

"I was waiting for an official announcement on seat sharing by NDA which was made yesterday", Paras said adding that NDA announced the list of seat sharing for 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. His party had five MPs but no claim was entertained, he pointed out.

"I worked with utmost sincerity. injustice has been done with us", Paras maintained. It is being speculated that RLJP may join hands with alliance INDIA to contest Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.

Paras had earlier announced that his party would contest Hajipur, Nawada, and Samastipur Lok Sabha seats at any cost. He is sitting MP from the Hajipur seat.

In seat arrangement among constituents of NDA, BJP will contest 17 seats, JD(U)-16, LJP-Ram Vilas-5, HAM-1 and Rashtriya Lok Morcha -1 seat in Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.