JD(U) protests, Chirag skips NDA meeting

The BJP had invited Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan to attend the NDA meeting on Saturday to discuss the ruling bloc’s agenda for the Budget session of Parliament, but the JD(U)’s protest is likely to have prompted him to skip the event.

LJP sources said Paswan did not attend the virtual meeting for health reasons, and noted he had also skipped the all-party meet held earlier in the day.

The invite to Paswan from parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi to the meeting of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies assumes significance as this made it clear that the LJP remains a member of the National Democratic Alliance despite walking out of the alliance in Bihar during the state assembly polls.

JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi put on record his party’s stand against the LJP, telling PTI that it does not consider Paswan’s

We do not consider the LJP a part of the NDA

K C TYAGI,

JD(U) leader

party a member of the NDA.

“The LJP had worked against the NDA’s official candidates in the assembly elections. It did not work merely against the JD(U) but also against candidates of the BJP and two other allies — Vikassheel Insaan Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular). This caused a lot of harm to the NDA.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself said (during the polls) the NDA in Bihar is working under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership and this includes VIP and HAM. Therefore, we do not consider the LJP a part of the NDA,” Tyagi said.