Union Minister of Food and Consumer Protection and lJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan said on Monday that his party was already in election mode and leaders of lJP were touring the State to ensure the victory of NDA in the September-October Assembly election.
Paswan clarified that he was not in the race for the top seat in Bihar and said anyone declared by the BJP would be acceptable to him. “We will accept A, B, C, D whosoever is declared as leader by the BJP,” he said while talking to newsmen at lJP office here. “Our goal is to ensure the victory of NDA and to form the Government,” he added.
But, the lJP chief ducked the questions regarding how many Assembly seats his party would demand. “There would be no problem is seat sharing. The issue will be discussed with the leaders of other NDA constituents,” he said.
After joining the NDA, lJP will be fighting its first Assembly election with the BJP. Even though Paswan had earlier been a constituent of the NDA and was a Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he had electoral alliance with lalu Prasad’s RJD since 2000 till early 2014. His party in alliance with the RJD had contested 75 Assembly seats in 2010 but could win only three registering a vote share of 6.74 per cent. Its major ally RJD contested 168 seats and won 22 with a vote share of 18.84 per cent.
Claiming that his party stands for secularism and enjoys the support of all sections of the society he said all his six MPs belong to the Dalit, upper caste and minority communities. In the election too, he added, the party will give representation to all sections.
lJP parliamentary board chief and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan who was also present said he has toured about 60 Assembly constituencies and the party has planned to cover all the 39 districts under Bihar Bachao Yatra led by Ram Vilas Paswan. The leaders of BJP are also touring across Bihar to strengthen support base in favour of NDA. "Despite being different parties, we will fight as one to ensure the formation of NDA Government," Paswan said.
About the legislative Council election to 24 seats in July, lJP Bihar president Pashupati Kumar Paras said the party has three sitting MlCs and has staked claim on three more seats. He said it has been conveyed to the BJP and very soon it would be finalised as there is no dispute.