The Hindu : Other States / Bihar News : LJP only alternative to RJD, says Paswan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004

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LJP only alternative to RJD, says Paswan

ALLAHABAD, DEC 27 . The Union Fertiliser Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, today claimed a wave in favour of his Lok Janshakti Party and said people in Bihar have realised that the LJP is the only alternative to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Mr Paswan told UNI that the people of Bihar had ``understood'' that he was the alternative to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and they had decided to vote for the LJP in the assembly polls.

``The ruling RJD is frustrated with the increasing strength and popularity of LJP and harassing our party workers and putting them in jail,'' he alleged.

Asserting that he was not eyeing the chief ministership of Bihar, the LJP supremo said both the RJD and BJP were ``untouchable'' for him and the question of any electoral alliance with the parties did not arise. The LJP has decided to field candidates on all the 243 assembly seats in Bihar.

``If the Janata Dal (U) severs its ties with the NDA and BJP, an alliance with the party can be made, but the chances are bleak,'' he claimed.

Mr Paswan also said if the Congress snapped ties with the RJD, an electoral alliance might be possible with the party.

He welcomed the EC decision to hold three-phase polls in Bihar, saying the EC has taken the decision after due consideration. ``To hold the polls in Bihar in one day was difficult.''

However, he demanded the EC to ensure deployment of central forces at every polling booth for free and fair elections in the state.

The Union minister said his party would field candidates on all the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand and 90 seats in Haryana.

He claimed the people in Jharkhand were fed-up with the ``Adivasi'' chief minister of the state and wanted a change of guard. ``The position of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is also not satisfactory,'' Mr Paswan observed claiming his party would win the maximum seats in the polls.

On his conflict with Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, he maintained his ``fight'' was against the misrule of the Rabri Devi government in Bihar and not against Mr Yadav. ``Our fight will not affect the working of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre,'' he clarified.

Asked if the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) would disrupt assembly polls in Jharkhand, Mr Paswan said the organisation had not given a call for boycotting elections and would not disturb the poll process.

-- UNI

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LJP only alternative to RJD, says Paswan