RJD, LJP reach alliance for Bihar poll, Lalu CM candidate
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Overcoming last-minute hiccups, Mr Lalu Prasad-led RJD and Mr Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP on Monday clinched an alliance for coming assembly elections in Bihar in which they will get 168 and 75 seats respectively.
Mr Lalu Prasad will be Chief Ministerial candidate of the alliance while LJP Bihar unit chief, Mr Pashupati Kumar Paras, younger brother of Mr Paswan, will be the Deputy Chief Minister aspirant.
Uncertainties had gripped the tie-up in the last three-four days, triggering speculation that LJP would join hands with Congress in case the alliance with RJD broke down.
"Our alliance (with RJD) is rock solid and unbreakable. There is no truth in reports that I had talks with Congress or that I would become a minister at the Centre," Paswan said at a joint press conference with Prasad here.
"RJD will contest on 168 seats and LJP would be fielding candidates in 75 seats...Lalu Prasad will be the leader of our alliance for the election. He will be projected as Chief Ministerial candidate while Pashupati Kumar Paras will the nominee for Deputy Chief Minister,"Mr Paswan said.
The LJP chief said he would focus on national politics.
Mr Prasad said the two parties had joined hands after much consideration and added "the alliance between the two parties will continue even in future."
Mr Prasad, whose party's 15-year rule in Bihar from 1990 to 2005 had been criticised for alleged rise in crimes among other things, sought to assure the people that "RJD today is not the same RJD."
"RJD has changed a lot. There were a few people during our rule who brought a bad name for us. If our government comes to power, such elements will not be tolerated." Prasad's controversial brother in law, Mr Anirudh Prasad Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav had broken off from RJD and joined Congress during last Lok Sabha elections.
Witout naming him, Prasad said "all such elements have now gathered in the Congress."
Referring to reports of Mr Paswan coming closer to Congress, he reminded that Congress refused to support Mr Paswan for his Rajya Sabha bid from Bihar a few months ago.
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