Chirag Paswan Joins NDA After Meeting JP Nadda, Amit Shah In Delhi

The BJP has announced that Chirag Paswan, the leader of a prominent faction within the Lok Janashakti Party, will be joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This announcement came shortly after his meeting with the BJP's key strategist, Amit Shah.

On the eve of the NDA's show of strength in Delhi, JP Nadda, the BJP chief, welcomed Chirag Paswan to the NDA family, stating, "Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has decided to join NDA."

Chirag Paswan, who is the political successor of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, had previously withdrawn from the NDA ahead of the last state election in Bihar due to disagreements with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Although this move weakened Kumar's numbers and gave the BJP an advantage in the state, it left Chirag Paswan isolated, as his uncle, Pashupati Paras, along with four MPs, remained with the NDA.

Given that a majority of Bihar's six percent Paswan voters support Chirag Paswan, it was indicated that the BJP needed his alliance within the NDA. During his meeting with Amit Shah, Chirag Paswan reportedly requested six seats for his faction.

While the BJP's response is still unknown, the party has been striving to reconcile the two factions of the Lok Janashakti Party. Pashupati Paras rejected the idea, stating, "When things go wrong, when the milk curdles, no matter how hard you try, you get no butter."

The faction led by Pashupati Paras has stated that they will not oppose Chirag Paswan's entry into the NDA, but they will not actively welcome him either.

In response to questions about his nephew's participation in the meeting, Pashupati Paras commented, "This is an election year. Every party wants to attract more people... So Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi have been invited. People will attend the meeting, which is a positive thing. The outcome of the meeting will determine what happens."