Support of either Congress or BJP is a must if a Third Front has to emerge after the general elections next year, Lok Janshakti Party chief Vilas Paswan has said.
“See, a Third Front is not possible without the support of BJP or Congress. Their support is mandatory. Since the alliance would have to be secular, it can’t take BJP’s support and it will have to take Congress’ support. That is why I have stated the main issue is Congress, and LJP wants to maintain an alliance with Congress,” Paswan said.
With RJD supremo Lalu Prasad landing in jail in connection with the fodder scam, Mr. Paswan said there was a need for serious discussion among the current allies to decide on the future course ahead of the 2014 elections.
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He said LJP is interested in staying in alliance with Congress but the onus is on the ruling party to decide on their partners.
“We want our alliance with Congress to stay, but they have to decide on the future course of the alliance. At the moment, we are together with RJD. But since Laluji is in jail there is a need for a serious discussion among the parties,” Mr. Paswan said.
Once an ally of the BJP-led NDA front, Mr. Paswan, a Rajya Sabha MP, claimed it was the demolition of the Babri Masjid which went against the party’s prospects.
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“An issue can be worked out only once. Had the Babri Masjid not been demolished, BJP would not have been reduced to this dismal state. They could have banked upon votes on that issue. But with its demolition, Babri Masjid as an issue also ceased for BJP.
“It was a mistake by BJP. Had the Babri Masjid not been demolished, BJP would have kept coming to power,” Mr. Paswan claimed.