Union Minister Chirag Paswan has strongly dismissed rumors of a rift between his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the BJP, particularly on contentious issues like lateral entry into the civil services and Waqf reforms. In a recent interview with PTI, Paswan affirmed his unwavering loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “My love for Narendra Modi is unshakeable. I am inseparable from him as long as he is Prime Minister.
Paswan’s remarks come amidst growing speculation about tensions within the NDA alliance, following his critical stance on certain BJP decisions, including the Waqf board reforms and the lateral entry policy in the bureaucracy. Despite his opposition, Paswan emphasized that his views are generally aligned with the government’s positions, pointing to the Waqf Bill being referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) as evidence of this alignment.
Regarding the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, Paswan expressed his readiness to contest if the BJP desires. He confirmed that his party remains committed to the BJP alliance both in Bihar and at the national level, and he is open to forming alliances in other states like Jharkhand if the BJP and other NDA partners are on board.
Paswan also downplayed the significance of a recent meeting between his estranged uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, noting that Paras has lost public support. Paras, who leads the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, resigned from his Union cabinet position in protest after being denied a seat in the Lok Sabha elections. However, Paswan secured five seats for his party, including his late father’s stronghold of Hajipur, leaving Paras sidelined.
Paswan’s statements aim to quell any doubts about his party’s commitment to the NDA alliance and reinforce his close relationship with Prime Minister Modi.
