"We are preparing for all 243 seats...": RLJP chief Pashupati Kumar Paras quits NDA

Patna (Bihar) [India], April 14 (ANI): Pashupati Kumar Paras, the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), announced on Monday that his party is quitting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Speaking in Patna, Bihar, Paras claimed that despite being a loyal ally since 2014, the party was treated unfairly during the Lok Sabha elections due to its Dalit roots. The development comes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar.
The RLJP has started a membership drive and is preparing for the upcoming assembly elections, in which it will contest all 243 seats in Bihar.
Paras hinted that if the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) offers proper respect and a suitable position, the RLJP might consider joining them in the future.
"We were compelled...We are going amid the people and have started a membership drive. We are preparing for all 243 seats...If Mahagathbandhan gives us proper respect at the right time, we will definitely think of politics in future...," said Pashupati Kumar Paras.
He said that the BJP and JD(U) state chiefs repeatedly referred to themselves as the "5 Pandavas" in Bihar without mentioning RLJP's name in any NDA meetings over the past 6-8 months.
"Whenever NDA meeting was held in Bihar, BJP state chief and JD(U) state chief issued statements that they are '5 pandavas' in Bihar, they didn't mention our party's name anywhere..," said the RLJP chief.
Despite supporting the NDA in the elections, Paras felt that his party was not given due respect, leading to the decision to leave the alliance.
""I have been with the NDA from 2014 to date. We were loyal allies of the NDA. You must have seen that when Lok Sabha elections were held, people of NDA did injustice to our party as it is a Dalit party. Still, in the national interest, our party decided to support NDA in the elections," said Pashupati Kumar Paras.
A high stakes battle is expected to take place in Bihar, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA); consisting of Janata Dal (United) led by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, and the Bharatiya Janata Party fighting against the Mahagathbandan; consisting of Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and left parties.
The elections in the state are expected to take place between October-November, however the dates for the polls have not been announced yet. (ANI)