President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Pashupati Kumar Paras from the Union Council of Ministers on Wednesday, with immediate effect. The resignation was accepted under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution, as advised by the Prime Minister.
Following this, the President directed that Kiren Rijiju, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in addition to his existing portfolio.
Pashupati Kumar Paras resigned as union minister after his party, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), was denied any seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. He stated, “Yesterday, the NDA alliance announced the list of 40 candidates for Bihar Lok Sabha…Our party had five MPs & I worked with utmost sincerity…Injustice has been done with us & our party. Therefore, I resign from the post of Union Minister.”
In the seat-sharing arrangement announced by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, BJP is set to contest 17 seats, JD(U) 16, HAM and RLSP one seat each, and LJP five seats.
The Lok Sabha elections in Bihar will be conducted in seven phases, starting from April 19 and concluding on June 1, with results declared on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won 17 seats, JD(U) secured victory on 16 seats, LJP had won 6 seats, and INC had won only one seat.