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Paswan hints at secular front in Bihar

K. Balchand

`Would consider any proposal of the Congress president'

PATNA: A fresh realignment of political forces is in the offing ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections in November if one goes by the clue forwarded by the Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan that a secular front could be formed in the state to take on communal forces on the lines of the UPA at the Centre.

Arriving here for the first time after braving the current spate of dissidence in his party, Mr. Paswan maintained that he would consider any proposal of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, in this regard. He said that the communist parties too were in favour of a secular front.

If such a formula were put forward, Mr. Paswan would take a decision on the issue at the party's national executive sometime in October only just ahead of the elections. He made it clear that he would not do anything that would help the communal forces in the elections to the Assembly.

Mr. Paswan, who fought against the RJD in the Assembly elections held in February last, steered clear of making any comments on joining hand with his staunch rival, the RJD supremo and Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, "I'll not like to be trapped in such tricky issues. I'll not open that card now."

He declined to comment on whether he would accept any proposal of Mrs. Gandhi to join hands with the RJD. He was equally evasive on whether he would stick to his earlier of stand of maintaining equidistance between the BJP and the RJD only stressing that he would not do anything that would help the communal forces.

Mr. Paswan expressed his desire in continuing his relations with the Congress and maintained that he would only be happy if the latter entered into a seat sharing arrangement with him again. As of now he would be seeking to forge a Dalit-Muslim combination, prepare to contest all the 243 seats and decide on his future course of action as and when required.

Mr. Paswan said that those who had deserted him would now have to explain their conduct to the electorate and emphasised that he had only stood by his principles and should not be held responsible for the non-formation of a government and the dissolution of the house.

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Paswan hints at secular front in Bihar

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