New Delhi, February 23
A senior leader from Ramvilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party today said his party had decided to go with the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections.

After a meeting of LJP leaders at Paswan’s residence here, former MP and party leader Surajbhan Singh said, “Alliance between the LJP and the BJP has been finalised.” However, LJP secretary general Abdul Khalik said there was no final decision. “Only the parliamentary board of the LJP can take such a decision,” said Khalik.

Asked how the LJP chief, who was the first to quit the NDA in 2002 protesting against the Gujarat riots, could align with the BJP whose prime ministerial candidate is Narendra Modi, Surajbhan said, “When the court has given a clean chit to Modi, who are we to say anything?”

He said a formal announcement about the alliance will be made “very soon” in which it would be made clear which party will contest how many seats in Bihar. He also said that Paswan would soon meet BJP chief Rajnath Singh.

However, other senior party leaders chose to remain evasive, saying no such decision had been taken, and the party was yet to decide on the alliance.

“The parliamentary board of the LJP will take the final call. The board will meet in a couple of days,” said Khalik.

He, however, parried a question whether the LJP has had any talks for alliance with the BJP. “Our talks with the Congress and the RJD are going on,” he said. Sources said some BJP leaders from Bihar had recently met Paswan.