Apparently taking a cue from fellow NDA ally JD(U), headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Lok Janshakti Party on Thursday asserted its ties with the BJP-led coalition was "limited" to the state and it was looking forward to expanding its national footprint by contesting assembly polls in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal.
At a function organised here to celebrate the partys foundation day, Chirag Paswan the new LJP president and son of de facto leader Ram Vilas Paswan however insisted that the ambitions must not be construed as a disaffection with the NDA.
He asserted "our ties with the BJP are stronger than ever.. we are committed to working together and helping Nitish Kumar return as the Chief Minister next year".
The party has launched a membership drive through which it aims at raising the strength of the organization to one crore.
"Bihar would of course be our main focus. But the leaders of our state units elsewhere have also come here and I tell them that the central leadership is fully with them wherever they find themselves in a position to fight assembly polls", Chirag Paswan said.
"States like Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal these are scheduled to witness assembly polls. Our leaders in these states should explore the possibilities.
"If they wish to take the electoral plunge, they would be backed in their endeavour by the parliamentary board", the Jamui MP, whose decision to go it alone in the Jharkhand assembly polls had raised many eyebrows, said.
He, however, sought to make it clear that the LJP acknowledged the role played by "Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi in pulling Bihar out of the era of lawlessness.. when we approach the assembly polls next year we will ensure victory of not only our candidates in the seats LJP seeks to fight, but also help our alliance partners to win their seats".
"However, we must keep working towards expanding our base. Today we have six MPs. Just visualize the clout we would enjoy if our tally increases to sixty", said Paswan at the function.
His father Ram Vilas Paswan,cousin and state president Prince Raj and uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras who headed the state unit before becoming an MP from the founding leaders pocket borough Hajipur were among those present on the occasion.
The young LJP leaders stance resembles that of the JD(U), an NDA ally for more than two decades, which has contested against BJP in states like Arunachal Pradesh where it is the main opposition party while the saffron party is in power
Moreover, in the wake of the revolt by the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, speculations have been rife that the BJPs allies
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