"Chirag Paswan Is Part Of NDA": BJP's Reminder To Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar's cabinet colleague, Neeraj Babloo, the state's minister for Environment and Forests, said, "Chirag Paswan is very much part of the NDA and will remain in the NDA"

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's ruling ally, the BJP, gave a further indication today that it is not on the same page with him where Chirag Paswan and his Lok Janshakti Party are concerned. The party made it a point to turn out in strength yesterday for the function in Patna that marked the death anniversary of Ram Vilas Paswan, while Nitish Kumar was conspicuous by his absence. Today, a cabinet colleague of the Chief Minister issued a reminder of sorts. "Chirag Paswan is very much part of the NDA and will remain in the NDA," Neeraj Babloo, the state's minister for Environment and Forests told reporters. The statement is being seen as a belated realisation on part of BJP that despite the split orchestrated by Nitish Kumar and a section of their own leaders to teach a lesson to Chirag Paswan, the alliance needs the Lok Janshakti Party. For the BJP, it has now become clear that not just Paswan voters but also Dalits, by and large, continue to back Chirag Paswan in the ongoing family feud.