Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras Resigns, Kiren Rijiju Takes Charge of Food Processing Industries Ministry

Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras has tendered his resignation from the Ministry of Food and Processing Industries, citing the exclusion of his party, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), from the recent seat-sharing agreement within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the Bihar Lok Sabha elections.

The resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu, as per a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which also confirmed that Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju would be assuming the additional responsibilities of the Food Processing Industries Ministry.

Prior to his resignation, Pashupati Kumar Paras expressed his discontent with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly sidelining the RLJP in the seat distribution process, even as he voiced intentions to contest the upcoming polls in Bihar.

Paras’s decision followed the announcement by the NDA allocating five seats to the faction led by Chirag Paswan, son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, ignoring Paras’s claims. This move exacerbated the factional tensions within the RLJP, prompting Paras to take a stand against what he perceived as injustice towards his party.

With speculations arising that Paras might align with the opposition alliance led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, the political landscape in the state is poised for an intensified electoral contest, particularly in the Hajipur constituency, historically associated with the Paswan family.