RJD Overture to LJP to Join Secular Front in Bihar
New Delhi: June 12, 2005
Planning ahead in view of the coming Assembly elections in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), just days after writing the political obituary of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ram Vilas Paswan, on Saturday, said its doors were open for the LJP leader as the party believed in bringing together all secular forces within its fold to "counter communal parties like the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)".
Party spokesperson, while talking to reporters in Patna, said that the RJD had no objection to an alliance with the LJP to defeat the NDA in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Bihar.
"It's really up to Paswan to come and join us. Our doors are wide open for him," Tiwari said. "We have always discouraged split in secular votes and for this we want all parties including the CPI and CPI-M to join us in our attempt to keep the communal elements from coming into power," he further said.
Tiwari's indirect appeal to Paswan, however, fell on deaf ears as the LJP leader categorically ruled out any dealing with the RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. "Both RJD and the NDA were responsible for causing a split in his party and I would have nothing to do with either party in the coming Assembly elections in Bihar," Paswan said.
"Our Muslim-Dalit combination will become a major power house in the country occupying major portfolios," Paswan, who is on a crusade to appease Muslim voters in Bihar, said while addressing at a LJP-sponsored minority conference in New Delhi.
"RJD leaders are in the habit of 'kidnapping' people while the NDA is known for 'abducting' MLAs," Paswan said.
Taking a direct shot at the RJD chief, Paswan said that Lalu Prasad Yadav wanted to wipe off LJP but failed utterly. :He wanted the end of LJP so he could continue to exploit the Muslims. I will not join hands with him," he said.
Not too many people, including his own leaders, are taking Paswan seriously though. As early as few weeks ago, Paswan, after trashing Yadav since the results of the last Assembly elections were announced, was more than willing to join hands with the RJD when he saw an imminent split in his party. In the end, Paswan will make a grand 'sacrifice to keep the communal elements at bay' and join hands with Lalu," an LJP insider said on the condition of anonymity.
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