The Hindu : National : LJP not to contest seats held by Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 05, 2005

National

National

LJP not to contest seats held by Congress

Special Correspondent

Paswan says he is still opposed to RJD leader Lalu Prasad

Talks were being held on seat sharing with the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (ML) Liberation

NEW DELHI: Union Minister and Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan said his party would not field candidates in the seats held by the Congress even if it contested in an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the coming elections.

Speaking to newspersons here, Mr. Paswan said he remained opposed to RJD leader Lalu Prasad but could consider an electoral alliance if he agreed on a Muslim as the Chief Minister.

Earlier this week, Mr. Prasad had said the secular alliance in Bihar had "set sail'' and while doors were open to all parties, none would be specifically invited to discuss seat sharing with other parties.

The LJP chief, whose party won 29 seats in the previous Assembly polls, said while the Congress was welcome to join his party in an electoral alliance, talks were being held on seat sharing with the two Left parties, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (ML) Liberation.

The LJP joined other political parties such as the RJD and the CPI in asking the Election Commission to postpone the schedule of Assembly elections till November 7 since it clashed with several festivals like Diwali, Eid, and Chhat puja.

Nitish Kumar's plea

PTI reports from Gaya:

NDA's chief ministerial candidate, Nitish Kumar, on Sunday demanded Governor Buta Singh's immediate replacement claiming a fair poll was not possible in the State with Mr. Singh in office.

"It's proved through his own admission that he had spied on the NDA before recommending dissolution of the State Assembly. With Singh at the helm of state affairs a fair poll is not possible," Mr. Kumar told reporters before proceeding on the last day of the fourth phase of his "Nyay Yatra."

Quoting Mr. Singh's April 27 letter to the President in which he said ``contacts in the BJP and JD (U) have informed that 16-17 MLAs of the LJP have been won over and attempts are being made to win over others,'' Mr. Kumar had accused the Governor of ``spying on Opposition MLAs." He said the Election Commission must remove all "tainted" officials from poll-related work to ensure a free and fair Assembly election.

Speaking on the occasion, senior BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain appealed to naxalites to shun violence and to lift their poll boycott call.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National