Our talks with RJD going in positive direction: Congress

Q&A with Ashok Chawdhury, Bihar Congress chief

Bihar Pradesh Congress chief Ashok Choudhary speaks to Kavita Chowdhury on the present political turmoil in Bihar and the prospects of an LJP alliance now with the Congress and RJD.  

The Congress dream of stitching up a secular alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD and the Lok Janshakti Party LJP in Bihar seems to be breaking up even before its been formalized?

That’s not correct. We are hopeful of working things out with the LJP. It’s a three party alliance so issues about seat sharing are bound to surface.

The LJP is going overboard to make known its intentions of walking over to the BJP camp and apparently its only a matter of time before that tie up is announced. So how are you so optimistic of an alliance with LJP?

That’s what the media is portraying. Chirag Paswan’s most recent statement is that he has denied any contact with the BJP. Please understand, the LJP is still in touch with us and we are working things out. We want a strong secular alliance in Bihar.

On the issue is about seat sharing, apparently, the bone of contention is the Jamui seat. LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan wants the seat for his son Chirag Paswan and Congress is reluctant on that. You too had contested from that seat last time in 2009.

Yes, that’s one of the issues. There are other seat related matters as well.

Since the Congress is insistent on a secular alliance, what are the prospects of an alliance with the JD(U) in Bihar?

As of now, our talks with the RJD are at an advanced stage and it’s going in a positive direction. But in politics, anything is possible. Please remember, in 2000, we voted against Nitish Kumar when he was with the NDA but the Congress supported the JD(U) led government when it parted ways with the BJP last year. The Congress credentials with secular forces is unquestionable.
     
The Congress is banking on RJD but that party seems to be a breaking up?

All the so called ‘divide’ that we are seeing in the RJD will make no difference. Those with secular credentials will remain in the party and the secular vote in the state will remain undivided.