'Listen to Allies Before It's Too Late': Chirag Paswan Uses Kushwaha, TDP's Exit From NDA to Warn BJP

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)’s Parliamentary Board chairman Chirag Paswan seemed to issue a veiled threat to the BJP over seat sharing in Bihar, saying if talks did not successfully progress in the right direction, it could lead to damage.

Paswan, tweeting in Hindi, said after the exit of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) from the NDA fold, the alliance is at a critical juncture and at such a time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) must address the concerns of the remaining constituents “before it is too late”.

This is not the first time Paswan has issued an ultimatum to the BJP over seat sharing. Last month, the LJP leader had said the party will not accept any "dishonourable" arrangement in Bihar for Lok Sabha elections. He had said with the JD(U) joining the alliance this time, the BJP being the biggest partner will have to make more adjustments for its allies.

Seat sharing in Bihar has been mired in controversy since reports started doing the rounds that the BJP and the JD(U) had decided to equally divide the seats. RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha recently quit the NDA and resigned as minister after a prolonged battle with the BJP over seat-sharing for the 2019 elections.

"Having served in your council of ministers for last 55 months, I stand dejected and betrayed by your leadership. There has been fundamental problem in what you promised to the people before elections and what you have actually delivered after coming to power," read Kushwaha's resignation letter to PM Modi.