New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) got a major boost ahead of the crucial general elections when it managed to get two more parties on board in Bihar. While the BJP formally announced former Janata Deal United MP Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) was now with NDA, talks with Lok Janshakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan are in final stages.
Senior LJP leader Surajbhan Singh confirmed reports of a tie-up with BJP. However, the party is expected to make an official announcement soon. The BJP, too, refrained from making it official yet as its party spokersperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "I have not been told anything about this yet, but anything is possible in politics."
Reacting to the announcement, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav who was keen to tie-up with the LJP and the Congress in Bihar said that he had no grudges against Paswan. "I have no grudge against Ram Vilas Paswan. I think this announcement was made by some senior leader of the party. Our target is to stop communal forces and Narendra Modi," he said.
This U-turn by Paswan comes after he was reportedly upset with no progress in the alliance between the RJD, LJP and the Congress.
The LJP chief had earlier hinted that there is a 'Modi wave' in the country.
His party was involved in negotiations with Congress and RJD over seat sharing, but it didn't materialise. LJP National Vice President Ramchandra Paswan had expressed hope that the alliance between the trio will be finalised in a few days and will be able to put up a good show in the state.
Ramchandra had said, "There is no problem in seat sharing. Talks are going on and the alliance is likely to be stitched up in 3-4 days. LJP, Congress and RJD are going to fight the elections together in Bihar."
Interestingly, a day earlier, RJD chief Lalu Prasad had asserted that he will form an alliance with the Congress and the LJP "to stop communal forces". "Just wait and watch," he said.
The NDA's OBC vote share too got rejuvenated after Kushwaha's RLSP decided to cement alliance with the BJP.
RLSP will contest three seats in Bihar. Kushwaha, however, didn't confirm the three places where his party will field candidates.
He told IBNLive that BJP- RSLP alliance will be a huge challenge for the Congress- RJD combine in Bihar. Sources say RLSP will contest from Nawada and Karakat while the third seat is yet to be decided.
When asked about the Nitish Kumar's JDU, Kushwaha said that the former was no where in the race.
Kushwaha is a former JDU MP and he parted ways with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in early 2013.
After this alliance, the BJP is looking forward to woo non-Yadav, non-Kurmi sections of OBCs and MBCs in Bihar.
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