LJP eyes select seats but set to go with Congress-RJD

New Delhi: Lok Janshakti Party claims that there is no problem in stitching up an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress in Bihar despite the three parties being in negotiations for the last several weeks. LJP National Vice President Ramchandra Paswan hoped that alliance will be finalised in a few days and will be able to put up a good show in the state.

"There is no problem in seat sharing. Talks are going on and the alliance is likely to be stitched up in 3-4 days. Lok Janshakti Party, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal are going to fight the elections together in Bihar," said Ramchandra Paswan, brother of LJP President Ram Vilas Paswan.

He made it clear that LJP is very particular about seats it wants to contest from and there would be no compromise on them. "We want 10 seats and we have already made it clear the constituencies where the party wants to put up its candidates. We had fought on 12 seats last time and now we are demanding 10 seats," he said.

While he declined to reveal the seats that his party was keen on sources have told IBNLive that the LJP and Congress are adamant on contesting from Samastipur (reserved) constituency. LJP wants Ramchandra Paswan to contest while the Congress is keen on putting up Ashok Kumar from the seat. There are another 7-8 seats where all the three parties are keen on contesting.

Admitting that it will be tough election with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal United putting up a strong fight, Paswan added, "It is going to be triangular contest. BJP and JDU have their dedicated vote banks but we are confident of putting up a good show and winning a large number of seats if the alliance is finalised and all the partners work in close coordination. We are not taking any one lightly as both BJP and JDU are strong. If Congress, RJD and LJP are united, then we will win."

While the three parties had contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections together winning 29 seats, in 2009 the three went alone with the RJD bagging four seats, the Congress two and the LJP facing a complete rout.