Expressing firm solidarity with Rashtriya Janata Dal, the key ally in Bihar Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan said on Wednesday that his party might not be part of United Progressive Alliance if RJD chief Lalu Prasad was kept out of it.
‘I would have to rethink our relationship with Congress if Lalu Prasad was not made a part of the UPA after post-poll alliance,’ the LJP leader said.
Talking to reporter in his Hajipur constituency, he, however, said that there should be no bitterness come among secular forces. But if the Congress is saying so he will think twice before being part of the UPA.
The widening gulf between Congress and RJD after allegation and counter-allegation in recent times expanded further Tuesday when the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee taking a harsh note of the Lalu’s remarks said “Congress would think before making Lalu Prasad a part of the UPA after Lok Sabha polls”.
Lalu had said there was no prime ministerial candidate for UPA. The name for the top post would be decided post polls.
Mukherjee, however, said later last night that Lalu had called him saying he would be with the Congress in forming a UPA government.
The rift between Congress and RJD enlarged after RJD making a pre-poll tie up with LJP left only three seats to Congress in Bihar; which eventually prompted Congress to fight on all seats in Bihar alone.
Polling for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held Thursday for 13 seats in Bihar and 8 seats in Jharkhand, and will decide the fate of some prominent faces, including LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan, noted filmmaker Prakash Jha, former JD-U leader George Fernandes, among others.
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