New Delhi: Talks for an alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) are at an advanced stage and the two parties are discussing seat-sharing agreement, sources here said.
The LJP, according to sources, initially sought that 10 Lok Sabha constituencies should be allocated to it to contest for in Bihar, and wants at least eight constituencies now.
The party yesterday said it is looking for “alternate allies” and the option for BJP is open.
“...all steps..., should be taken in the interest of the party and if an alternative alliance is to be firmed up, party chief Ram Vilas Paswan should take the decision,” LJP leader Chirag Paswan said after a meeting of the party’s parliamentary board.
LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag’s father, admitted there were strains in ties with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and that the talks for an alliance with the Congress did not show much progress. He added: “There is a deadlock in our alliance with RJD, all options are now open, including a tie-up with BJP.”
Police probe Abu Salem’s wedding on train
New Delhi: Mumbai police yesterday visited Delhi to probe reports that gangster Abu Salem got married on a train while being taken by police to Uttar Pradesh for a court hearing.
Sources said a team of Mumbai police visited Delhi and conducted an inquiry with Salem’s defence counsel, lock-up in-charge and security personnel who were deployed for escorting Salem.
The team will visit Lucknow Thursday for a further investigation.
Agencies
