Patna, April 14: Pashupati Kumar Paras, chief of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), announced on Monday that his party is withdrawing from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Paras expressed disappointment over the treatment his party received during the Lok Sabha elections, claiming that RLJP was sidelined due to its Dalit identity—despite being a committed NDA ally since 2014.
“We were loyal allies, but still faced injustice. Our Dalit identity was a factor in the unfair treatment. Yet, we supported the NDA in the national interest,” Paras said.
With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, RLJP has launched a statewide membership drive and plans to contest all 243 seats on its own.
Paras also took a swipe at NDA allies, particularly the BJP and JD(U), accusing them of ignoring RLJP in key discussions.
“In every NDA meeting in Bihar, BJP and JD(U) leaders kept referring to themselves as the ‘five Pandavas’—not once was RLJP acknowledged,” he said.
Looking ahead, Paras left the door open for possible alignment with the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), stating that if offered due respect and a meaningful role, RLJP may consider joining forces in the future.
“We are with the people now. If Mahagathbandhan gives us proper respect at the right time, we’ll consider the political possibilities,” he added.
