"Who Is He To Say?": Pashupati Paras On Chirag Paswan's Hajipur claim

"Who is Chirag Paswan to say which seat belongs to him? Let him go to Jamui. I will contest from Hajipur... There are no ifs and buts about this," Pashupati Paras said

Pashupati Paras, Union minister and uncle of Bihar leader Chirag Paswan, indicated today that while he would tolerate his nephew's presence in the NDA, anything more than that - a merger, or his having the Hajipur seat -- cannot be expected. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Mr Paras said, "Who is Chirag Paswan to say which seat belongs to him? Let him go to Jamui. I will contest from Hajipur... There are no ifs and buts about this".

Mr Paras also brushed off the visuals of his warm hug to his nephew at the NDA meet, which many saw as a signal of rapprochement. "He is my nephew. He touched my feet. It was my duty to give him my blessings," Mr Paras said. But that should not be misinterpreted, added the 71-year-old.

In an 'I told you so' moment, he also added that Chirag Paswan's decision to part company with the NDA had brought about the split in the party.