LJP to ally with Cong in WB, to go alone in TN, Kerala, Pondicherry

New Delhi, Mar 25 (UNI) Lok Janshakti Party President and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertiliser Ram Vilas Paswan today welcomed the resignation of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi from the Lok Sabha and as chairperson of the National Advisory Council and said she has set a high standard of morality in public life.

Mr Paswan said he was the first one to congratualate Ms Gandhi after she took the brave decision. He said that the issue of people holding office of profit should be resolved amicably by a consensus among all the political parties. Though LJP has no such MP holding office of profit, other parties may have such MPs so the matter could be resolved amicably he added.

Meanwhile, the LJP would ally with Congress in West Bengal while it would enter the electoral fray on its own in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry. He said that he wanted to go alone even in Assam assembly polls but the UDF leaders have proposed a coalition with LJP. The LJP would field ten candidates in alliance with the Congress in West Bengal, he said.

About Rajya Sabha polls, he said he had filed the name of LJP Vice President Ranjan Yadav as candidate and hoped the Left parties, independents and MLAs from other parties would vote for him. He said that in Bihar anti RJD wave is still prevailing and the people are also not happy with the Nitish Kumar Government, so his party candidate has more chances of winning the seat.

Mr Paswan said that he did not want a contest among the constitutents of UPA, so that the opponents get benefit of the division. He lamented the manner in which the RJD backstabbed him during the 2004 Lok Sabha polls despite a written agreement between him and RJD President Lalu Prasad and subsequently got LJP candidates defeated. With the RJD now contesting West Bengal polls in alliance with the Left Parties, he has decided to come into the electoral battle along with the Congress, he added.

He said that LJP leader Ramchandra Paswan is visiting Tamil Nadu and Kerala to talk to local leaders and his party would try its best not to harm the interest of UPA coalition.

Mr Paswan said LJP is planning to contest over 30 seats in Assam and he would visit the state during March 27-28 for campaigning and also declare the names of candidates of his party there.

UNI AJ PR BST1649