RLSP, LJP refute speculation about quitting NDA

BJP allies Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) on Saturday said they will not quit the BJP-led NDA.

Amid growing speculation that RLSP chief and Union Minister Upender Kushwaha might follow in the footsteps of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and dump the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Kushwaha said it is baseless and far from the truth.

Earlier, senior RJD leader Bhai Virender had claimed that the RJD is in touch with the RLSP and it will join the Grand Alliance of the RJD, Congress, and HAM. A HAM spokesperson, Danish Rizwan, also met Kushwaha and that had strengthened the speculation.

In fact, HAM founder and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi had hinted that the RLSP will join the Grand Alliance.

LJP chief and Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan also said that his party is with the NDA. "LJP is in NDA and will remain with it", he said.

However, Paswan said the NDA has suffered a big defeat in the bypolls and it is a matter of concern and worry. "NDA has to take everyone along with it as its slogan is 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'," he said.

--IANS

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