HP heading towards hung assembly: Paswan

Hamirpur, Dec 10 (UNI) Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ram Bilas Paswan today claimed that Himachal Pradesh was heading for a hung assembly wherein no political party in the state will be in a position to form the government.

Addressing a public meeting here, the Lok Janshakti Party chief claimed that LJP would play an important role in the formation of the government, since no party would be in a position to form the next state government.

Mr Paswan said his party was in a position to win about 10 assembly seats out of a total of 50 seats it was contesting in the second phase of polling in the Himachal polls.

Terming BSP supremo Mayawati as an ''opportunist'', he said despite her tall claims of being a ''true follower'' of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, she was in league with big 'zamindars' (landowners) of Uttar Pardesh.

''Her social engineering concept is a huge failure'', he added.

The minister said his second phase of canvassing in favour of his party candidates would begin from December 14 during which he would tour the remaining parts of the state.

Launching a blistering attack on the BJP, he said the party was voted to power on the issue of construction of Ram Temple, which it never cared to build during its six years in office.

''The party is raking up the temple and the Ram Setu issue again as it is sensing early Lok Sabha elections,'' he claimed.

Accusing the BJP of dividing people on religion, regionalism and caste lines, Mr Paswan said his party would have no truck with BJP which was ''a party of the businessmen and had no love for the common man''.

UNI