New Delhi: Giving a boost to the possibility of a pre-poll tie-up with BJP, top LJP leader Chirag Paswan on Monday said the party has no issues with Narendra Modi after courts have given him a “clean” chit in the 2002 riots.
Chirag, son of LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, refused to clearly spell out whether the party would be having an alliance with BJP and merely said the party’s Parliamentary Board will meet soon to decide on the issue of alliances. Sources said that LJP, which was a part of NDA before parting way after the 2002 Gujarat riots, is unhappy over the dilly dallying by Congress and RJD over seat-sharing and is considering other options.
Chirag, who heads LJP’s Parliamentary Board, and his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras are in talks with BJP for a possible alliance, the sources said.
At the same time, the sources said, the alliance with Congress and RJD stands as of now. While remaining tight-lipped on the issue of talks, Chirag Paswan said there is “distress” in the party over the way the seat-sharing issue has been dragging with Congress and Lalu Prasad-led RJD.
Asked whether LJP would have no problem with Modi in view of cases against him in connection with 2002 riots, Chirag said, “If the court has given its verdict and they say he (Modi) is clean, then I do not think it is an issue to talk about now.”
BJP President Rajnath Singh, however, was evasive on the issue, saying he was “not aware of what kind of talks” are taking place with LJP. Asked if there would be any decision soon, he said, “if some announcement has to be made, you will be told.” BJP spokesperson
Prakash Javadekar said a number of parties are reaching out to BJP as it is surging and Congress is losing. “But unless something concrete happens, we will not like to share anything,” he said. (PTI)
