Paswan rules out supporting BJP

Amidst reports of NDA trying to reach out to LJP, party chief Ram Vilas Paswan today said he will not allow "lotus to bloom" at the Centre at any cost.  

Ruling out any possibility of supporting a government led by BJP, Paswan told PTI: "We will not support BJP at any cost to form a government and will make all efforts to ensure that a secular government is formed."  

Meanwhile, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and RLD president Ajit Singh today called up Paswan. They as well as BJP Rajya Sabha member Najma Heptullah had also called up Paswan two days back when a fire had broken out in his residence.  

LJP secretary general Abdul Khaliq dismissed any possibility of his party switching over to NDA and downplayed the issue of NDA leaders calling up Paswan.  

"They called up to inquire about the fire incident. No politics should be read into it," he said.  

Also, Paswan said that not only LJP, but even SP and RJD would jointly chalk out plans on forming a secular government.  To a question if he was still in UPA, Paswan said: "I am in UPA and also a Minister in the government."  

Asked if he would remain in UPA, he said there were two possibilities that could emerge.  

"If UPA can get majority there will be no problem. The other scenario is the UPA does not get majority. In that situation, we three parties in the Fourth Front would jointly take a decision on the methodology of forming a secular government."

Asked whether the results would have been better if the UPA allies had fought the polls jointly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Paswan said: "We wished all fought unitedly. But Congress preferred to contest the elections alone in the two states. But even then, our results will be good."  

To another specific question whether he saw the possibility of a secular government at the Centre, he said there was not even an iota of doubt. "We will not allow the BJP to form a government at any cost....To prevent communal forces from coming to power."  

On what would be the LJP's priority, a Congress-led or a secular government, Paswan said that depended on the polls results and the situation. If UPA alone got a majority, then Congress would definitely have the upper hand, he added. 

 "At this stage we want to clarify that LJP, RJD and SP will take decision as a bloc and not as individual parties. SP is not a part of UPA till now. But it will play and important role in forming the next government," he said.  

Regarding the relationship with the Left parties, Paswan said it was not bad, but cordial. "We have been with them in government in the past," he added.