Chirag Paswan, Who Called Himself PM Modi's 'Hanuman', Rejoins NDA After Meeting Amit Shah

The development comes a day ahead of the ruling National Democratic Alliance meeting in which 38 parties are likely to participate.

BJP national president JP Nadda with Chirag Paswan

Source : Nadda/Twitter

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan re-joined the NDA after meeting BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday. The development comes a day ahead of the ruling National Democratic Alliance meeting in which 38 parties are likely to participate.

"Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has decided to join NDA. I welcome him to the NDA family," BJP chief JP Nadda tweeted.

Paswan had left the NDA in Bihar in 2020 to fight against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), who was then in alliance with BJP.

The LJP suffered a split following the death of supremo Ram Vilas Paswan. Chirag Paswan's uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras broke away a faction of the party and went on to become an Union minister in the Modi Cabinet. 

Then, Chirag Paswan had said he was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Hanuman" and supported him in every difficult situation. 

"I don't need to use PM Modi's photos for campaigning. He lives in my heart, I am his Hanuman. If needed, I'll tear open my chest and show it," Chirag Paswan had said.

On Monday, Chirag Paswan met Home Minister Amit Shah amid talks with BJP over his party's share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for the 2024 general elections.

"Had a positive discussion with the country's Home Minister respected Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi," Paswan said in a tweet after the meeting.

Union Minister Nityanand Rai had earlier met Paswan twice.

The undivided LJP had contested six Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and also received a Rajya Sabha seat as part of its seat-sharing deal with the BJP.

Now, Chirag Paswan has reportedly asked the BJP to stick to the same arrangement despite a division in his party, PTI reported quoting Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) sources.

Thirty-eight parties have confirmed their attendance at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting to be held on Tuesday in Delhi. On Sunday, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) also returned to the NDA fold.