Power of WE

We are not inimical to Left: Paswan

Patna: Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan on Thursday asserted that the UPA was "not inimical" to the Left parties as they wanted them to be with secular forces.

"Hum log kabhi bhi left ke virodh mein nahin hain (we are never inimical to the Left parties)... Hum hamesha chahte hain ki Left secular forces ke saath rahe (we always want that the Left parties be with secular forces)," the Union Minister for Steel, Chemicals and Fertlisers told reporters here.

Mr. Paswan was reacting to RJD chief Lalu Prasad's statement that doors were open for a post-poll alliance with the Left in the event of the Congress-led UPA not being in a position to form a government.

To another question, Mr. Paswan said "no talks have taken place with the Left leaders so far on government-formation at the Centre."

To another query, Mr. Paswan said he along with Lalu Prasad would remain within the UPA.

"We both will stay in (UPA)", he said.

The LJP-RJD combine along with the Samajawadi Party would play a major role in the formation of next UPA government, Mr. Paswan said.

LJP hints, if no RJD, then no ‘UPA’

Patna: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan indicated today that it would rethink its relationship with the Congress if Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Lalu Prasad was not part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

"Jo secular forces hain usme bitterness nahin aani chahiye. Lekin agar Congress aisa keh rahi hai, tho hum sochenge. (There should no bitterness among secular forces. But if the Congress is saying so, we will think about it)," Paswan said when he was asked if he would continue in the UPA if Lalu Prasad was not in it.

Paswan, who is in his constituency Hajipur, told a television channel that it was too early to comment on an alliance with the Third Front.

The LJP chief's comment comes a day after the Congress took umbrage at Lalu Prasad's remark that the UPA's prime ministerial candidate would be decided only after the elections.

The LJP and RJD have tied up for an alliance in Bihar, leaving the Congress to go it alone in the 40 Lok Sabha seats.

Stakes high for Lalu-Paswan alliance in round two (Poll Curtainraiser - Bihar)

It’s a high stakes battle for power in round two of Bihar’s parliamentary polls Thursday with not just several heavyweights in the fray but also the powerful Ram Vilas Paswan - Lalu Prasad combine testing its alliance against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Congress has been left to fight it alone in the state, where elections will be spread over four phases. In round two, 13 of the 40 constituencies are going to the polls, with an electorate of 16.9 million deciding the fate of 189 candidates, including nine women.

Lok Janshakti Party’s (LJP) Paswan and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, duo is said to enjoy overwhelming support amongst the Yadavs, a powerful backward caste, and the Paswans, a Dalit caste. Besides, they have a base amongst the Muslims too and, for the first time, are trying to win over a section of the upper caste by fielding over half a dozen candidates in the second phase.

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Nitish Kumar is hoping that his gambit of announcing 20 percent reservation for Extreme Backward Castes (EBC) and Maha Dalits will pay off in this round. And, together with its partner BJP, it is aiming at upper caste votes as in the past.

All eyes are on the six union ministers testing the electoral waters — the RJD’s Raghuvansh Prasad Singh from Vaishali, M.A.A. Fatmi from Darbhanga, Akhilesh Prasad Singh from East Champaran, Raghunath Jha from Valmikinagar and Congress’ Shakil Ahmad from Madhubani.

Son Of Soil: Chirag Paswan

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and steel, chemicals and fertiliser minister, busy with securing his party elsewhere, has roped in his son to help out in his traditional constituency Hajipur, about 25 km from the state capital Patna.

So Chirag, who is in his 20s, has been traversing the roads of Hajipur in the scorching son, requesting people to vote for his father and promising to turn Hajipur into a hub of prosperity.

Chirag, who accompanied his father when he filed his nomination April 1, has been fielding the obvious question — some angry youths asked him why Hajipur had not been done well all these years although Paswan had been representing the constituency since 1977.

The LJP is looking to Chirag to make the job easier for Paswan.

“His long hair and designer clothes are hot topics among villagers,” a LJP leader said, adding that he was proving to be a crowd puller in rural and semi-urban pockets in Hajipur.

Last month, filmmaker Prakash Jha, who has made critically acclaimed films like “GangaaJal” and “Apaharan” and is the LJP candidate from West Champaran in Bihar, said Chirag had Bollywood potential.

“Chirag is a very gifted boy. He’s tall and good-looking and ideal hero material. He has also been training hard for a career and is not taking the golden spoon in his mouth lightly.”

Chirag’s debut film “50-50″ is currently in the pre-production stage. He has also made it clear that he was more keen on a film career than politics.

But as he goes about the constituency, on the fertile northern banks of the Ganges and with plenty of banana plantations, asking for votes with folded hands, the genes come into play. He seems pretty much the seasoned politician.

“Chirag is doing hard work by seeking votes and support for Paswanji,” a LJP legislator said.

The party is hoping fervently that it all translates into votes as well.

SP, LJP, RJD tie-up in Maharashtra too

For the first time, the Lok Jan Shakti Party, along with the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal will come together in Maharashtra to contest over 10 seats.

On April 24, leaders of these parties, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad, will address a joint rally in Mumbai. The alliance hopes to tap the substantial north Indian voters in Mumbai, apart from the Scheduled Castes and Muslims.

The LJP will field candidates in Jalna and Thane or Kalyan.

While the alliance will not field a candidate against Ms. Priya Dutt of the Congress in Mumbai North Central, the SP’s Abu Asim Azmi has already started campaigning in Mumbai North West.

SP spokesman Abdul Kadir Choudhary said: “We are putting up candidates where the Congress is weak. We don’t want to divide the secular vote.” The SP had hoped that either the Congress or the Nationalist Congress Party would support Mr. Azmi but that did not happen.

Mumbai RJD chief Sayyed Shaukat Ahmed said the party would field two candidates in South Central and North East Mumbai, where there are many Muslims and north Indians.

The SP will field candidates in three constituencies in Vidarbha, apart from Aurangabad and Nandurbar, Mumbai North West, North and South.

Ram Vilas Paswan : Seasoned Dalit Leader

Other than the usual designated “Yuvrajs” of Gandhi family, the one politician who has been most pampered in India is Mayawati. She has been pampered like a queen. Many people will not believe but it is a fact that she is not a real “Dalit” leader in the sense meaning somebody who has seen the real hardship of Villages and the issues faced by Dalits there. She was a Primary School teacher and didn’t have to slog through Village Politics. Kashiram her mentor saw some exceptional leadership qualities in her and made her as his Political Heir. So unlike Ram Vilas Paswan and other Dalit leaders she doesn’t have to slog her way from Bottom up.

Then BJP started pampering her since 1995 by making her CM first time with 6 month rotational Chief Minister plan. Obviously this didn’t worked and the coalition broke down. Then PV Narasimha Rao made coalition with BSP in 1996 which resulted in rout of congress in UP but Mayawati benefited. Then again BJP tried to flirt with Mayawati around 1998 with the same 6 month formula which obviously failed.

Thus it seems strange that though despite her ditching BJP and Congress too often, why did both PVN and Vajpayee preferred to have alliance with Mayawati despite their regional leaders dead opposed against it. This was because both PVN and Vajpayee sincerely wanted to give Dalits the prestige of power, a place where they can feel that they are in command. There were many Dalit leaders post independence like Bau Jagjeevan Ram or Sitaram kesari etc but they couldn’t connect to Dalits to the same level as Kanshiram did. Kanshiram passed on this legacy to Mayawati.

So unlike Ram Vilas Paswan, Mayawati has not struggled too hard to reach this place. So she can easily say that she will become Prime Minister even though she may not be confident of winning 30-40 seats.

This election in Uttar Pradesh Mayawati may not be confident of winning more than 35 seats. But the same number of seats could be won by Jayalalitha / Chandra Babu Naidu and Pawar. Then why shouldn’t they claim their title to PM post so aggressively. This because they are seasoned politicians and obviously not so much pampered. They have faced humiliating defeats in past and understand that what does Democratic Humbling means.

So hopefully Mayawati who has seen her graphs only going up through out her life may face some heat this time. In any case today general feel is that leaders like Ram Vilas Paswan are more mature and seasoned Dalit leader under whose aegis the country will prospers.

Paswan sees victory signs in summer crowds

Patna airport: Helicopters of various shapes and sizes are waiting for their high-profile passengers. Soon after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Rajnath Singh fly out for the last day of campaigning for the first phase, it is the turn of LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan to give final touches in the two “winnable” constituencies of Ara and Nawada.

Dressed in a starched and spotless white kurta-pyjama and a matching pair of sports shoes, he takes his seat in the five-seater helicopter. As the rotor starts spinning, Paswan checks the cold water box and air-conditioning. Once airborne, he takes a quick nap; he knows Sahaar, his first destination in Ara, in just 25 minutes away. Soon, he reaches for one of the two tiffin boxes onboard and takes some chapattis and sabji.

By the time he finishes breakfast, the chopper has crossed the Sone river. “Keep the copter to your right, Sahaar will be somewhere around,” Paswan instructs the pilot. He is right, a big crowd is visble below waving to the leader in the air. Paswan asks the pilot to circle the venue once to “announce” his arrival. The landing unleashes a dust storm and the crowd retreats. Some turn their backs to the dust, others bend over.

As the door opens, garlands flow in and hands reach out to touch the leader’s feet. The LJP’s favourite slogan “Gunje dharti aasman, Ramvilas Paswan” rents the air. Candidate Ramkishor Singh, alias Ram Singh, welcomes his leader to the venue as the 2,000 strong crowd takes its place in front of the dais.

The stage is full of small leaders who rush their speeches to hand over the mike to Rama Singh. With folded hands the candidate speaks of development projects undertaken by Paswan. The stage is set for the LJP chief to take over. “Sahaar is like my home. My daughter is married off nearby. I am your friend in happiness and sorrow,” he tells the people, reminding them how he was instrumental in getting B R Ambedkar’s portrait unveiled in Parliament Hall. He also says how he, as communication minister, was the first to think of “a mobile phone in every hand”.

Paswan calls Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a domuha saanp (two-mouthed snake) explaning how the “JD(U) talks of Muslim welfare one day and garlands L K Advani the day”. He says it is time for children of Dailts to wrest important positions. And he has an example at home: “See, Chirag, son of Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, has become an actor now. I had never thought about it.” He asks everyone to raise hands to ensure support for the LJP, the crowd does so and the leader walks back to the chopper a happy man.

His next stop Garahni is 10 minutes away. “Even a small village had these many people under the scorching sun,” Paswan tells Rama Singh who has hopped in for the next leg of the journey. Rama nods in assertion and assures the leader of victory.

The crowd at Garahani is even bigger. The copter is once again the main attraction as Paswan more or less repeats his earlier speech. “There are two Indias, one rich and another poor. We have to bridge this gap,” he tells the voters. He also vows to keep the alliance with the RJD intact this time. “Nitish became CM only because of differences with Laluji and me. But now the two of us will keep the fascist forces at bay,” he adds in the five-minute speech.

He is now ready for Nawada where he has fielded Vina Devi, wife of muscleman Suraj Bhan. Back in the chopper, he tells The Indian Express that he has refrained from making personal attacks, explaining how he had a tough time defending Lalu Prasad after his “roller over Varun” speech.

Forty-five minutes later, Suraj Bhan is waiting for Paswan at Pakribarama in Nawada. But the stage is shaking and Paswan asks people to get off. The speech has to be a bit different here. He talks of starting a sugar mill in the area after the UPA returns to power, adding that the Barauni fertliser company will soon employ over 1,500 people. He also promises to deposit Rs 25,000 in the bank accounts of couples to which a girl is born.

He knows he has wind up by 5 pm and heads for Rajauli where Vina Devi is waiting. Paswan says Vina has been proactive even when she was not in politics. He asks for people’s blessings before returning to the chopper. He is again happy with the good crowds and says the LJP will win Ara and Nawada.

Now, he leaves for Jandaha under Hajipur for a public meeting and roadshow. He takes some rice, daal and vegetables. He is unhappy that the AC has stopped working. But then it is time for the next stop. As the chopper blades grind to a halt, Paswan gets out and disappears into the sea of supporters.

Fourth front is with Dalits

We are with minorities. And we will decide who will be the next PM.

Fourth front will decide who will be next PM

PURNEA: After a show of strength in Etawah, UP, the fourth front bandwagon on Friday rolled into Bihar where SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD’s Lalu Prasad, and LJP’s Ram Vilas Paswan claimed before a large crowd that they would be the ones to decide who will be India’s next prime minister.

Mulayam went a step further and declared that the troika will realize Ram Manohar Lohia’s and Jayaprakash Narayan’s dream of ushering in a socialist regime at Centre. Addressing a huge election rally at Rangbhumi Maidan in Purnea, Mulayam expressed happiness that differences between Lalu and Paswan had ended. ‘‘Now all of us have come together,’’ he said.

Lalu also said that they — the Fourth Front — will have absolutely no truck with the Third Front, and surprised one and all by backtracking on his remarks on Varun Gandhi that landed him in trouble. While he had earlier said that had he been the home minister, he would have driven a roller over Varun’s chest, on Friday, perhaps rattled by the EC’s reaction to his diatribe, Lalu said he had meant to drive a ‘‘legal bulldozer’’. ‘‘There’s an attempt to throw me behind bars but I am prepared to for that. After all swaraj was achieved when people went to jail,’’ the railway minister said.

Lalu said their alliance, which is contesting 134 LS seats in UP, Bihar, and Jharkhand, would rule the political firmament across the Hindi belt and crush ‘‘communal’’ elements.

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, cheered lustily everytime he came up on the dais, made a brief speech. He said he would still love to do Gandhigiri. Dutt, who has been denied permission to contest eletions by the SC, was speaking in his capacity as SP’s general secretary.

We’ll give dasha and disha to next govt: Fourth Front

The new trinity rising on India’s political horizon put up its first show of strength in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday.

Ram Vilas Paswan, Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav addressed thousands-strong rally in Saifai village, the Samajwadi Party chief’s homeground.

The key to the next government at the Centre, the trio declared, was with them.

“We are united once again and no power on this earth can now separate the three of us... We are going to form the next government at the Centre,” said Prasad, the chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

“Three brothers have come together, not only to win Lok Sabha elections, but also to fight communalism...We will show our strength in the cow belt.”

Mulayam added: “In fact, let me tell you without the support of three of us, no government at the Centre could be formed.”

Paswan joined in, saying: “We will have the arithmetic…UP, Bihar and Jharkhand account for 134 Lok Sabha seats…We will decide the dasha (shape) and disha (direction) of the new government.”

Significantly, unlike its first press conference a week ago in Lucknow, the three did not hail the UPA as the next government or Manmohan Singh as the next Prime Minister, which some warm-up speakers said could even be Mulayam.

But missing from all this action were Samajwadi general secretaries Amar Singh and Sanjay Dutt.

A miffed Amar Singh had threatened to quit the party just two days ago over disagreements with leader Azam Khan, but made a U-turn, it is believed, after Mulayam intervened. But the two, reports said, were present at the next rally in Bareilly.

Saifai was the first stop for the trio in the state on Thursday. Three more rallies were scheduled for Bareilly, Gorakhpur and Varanasi.

At the Saifai rally, Prasad asked the people to “free” Mulayam from Uttar Pradesh politics — apparently hinting that he could play a role at the Centre. “Please free Mulayam Singh Yadav from here. Once we are united now, we would ensure that your candidates win and the coalition wins,” he said.

Paswan joined in saying he and Prasad “were standing like rocks” to support Mulayam. “No one can separate us.”

Striking an emotional chord with the audience, he said: “People here have taken to the streets for Mulayam Singh Yadav and no power on earth can stop his chariot.”

Turning fiery, Prasad said: “We will not let communal forces to come to power. BJP is again promising Ram temple. PMs will come and...go, but we will not let communal forces divide the country. The wheel of law will crush Thakerays and Varun Gandhis…”

Aam aadmi ke Aam Leader

LJP releases manifesto, favours creation of smaller states

PATNA: Releasing its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, the LJP said it was in favour of creation of smaller states like Telangana as it was necessary for better administration and development.

"The party believes that for better administration and development of neglected regions, formation of smaller states is necessary," party chief Ramvilas Paswan said, while releasing the party manifesto here.

The manifesto also promised to take the initiative for socio-economic and educational development of the minorities, especially Muslims in the light of the findings of the Sachar Committee.

He said organisations like the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal would be banned if the LJP is voted to power and the party would bring a 'communal riot control act' against communal activities.

Paswan promised to make public and implement the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission, saying there would be a provision of 15 per cent reservation for minorities of which 10 per cent would be for Muslims.

The LJP also promised to provide reservations to women and OBCs in government jobs and the judiciary for which 50 per cent ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court would be removed through appropriate legislation.

Chiranjeevi Supports Fourth Front

Before NDA and UPA started calculating the loss because of a stronger third front, they both may receive another jolt with news of a 4th front in making in the India Political scenario.

This 4th front comprises of Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP, Laloo Yadav's RJD, Mulayam Singh's SP.

And now Chiranjeevi’s support has become a big boost for the fledgling Fourth Front. After a meeting with the Samajwadi Party's Amar Singh and Sanjay Dutt on Monday night in Hyderabad, Chiranjeevi, the rising political star in Andhra politics, declared he was with the Fourth Front.

"I was looking at whom to join in the national context. Then I thought why not the Fourth Front," said Chiranjeevi.

In the event of a hung parliament, the 4th will not support NDA and they may forcefully support the UPA government.

I’d be a big leader, but I am a Paswan

LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan speaks on his ambition, corruption, alliance with Lalu Prasad, Varun Gandhi et al in a freewheeling interaction with Ashok Mishra. Excerpts:

Now that you have joined hands with Lalu and Mulayam, would you pitch for the top job if three of you get a sizeable number of seats in UP and Bihar?
Every person in politics wants to become the Prime Minister. If I don’t say that it would be hypocrisy.
But there are two situations when one becomes Prime Minister.
First, when his party emerges as the single largest party with adequate numbers. Second, when a coalition is cobbled up with like-minded parties or groups. In the second case, a person on whom a consensus is arrived becomes the Prime Minister. In the past, H D Dewe Gowda became the Prime Minister despite less number of seats since the partners were unanimous on his name. But all such presumptions will depend upon the poll outcome.

Will you accept the post, if offered like Dewe Gowda was?
It will depend on the number of seats our formation (Samajwadi Party, RJD and LJP) gets. If we have over 60 seats, we will certainly have the strength to bargain with Congress and other allies of the UPA. But the decision on who would be Prime Minister would be taken at that point of time. The less controversial amongst us may take over.

The issue of Dalit as Prime Minister has been the focal point of every political outfit in the last few years. Where do you place yourself in the entire scheme of things?
There are two ways to attain this goal. Either, the Dalits should achieve it themselves by remaining united throughout the country as one political entity or they should be given the post as per the Constitutional obligation. But I feel there is a need to realise this goal through both the ways.

Had you not been a Dalit leader, would you have aspired for the post?
I would have been a big leader much earlier had I not been a Paswan. But being a Paswan certainly helped me climb the political ladder...I would like to be referred to as a casteless leader.

Paswan Lead's the way....

RASHTRIYA Janata Dal ( RJD) president Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party ( LJP) supremo Ram Vilas Paswan had no love lost between them until they forged an alliance for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

They had always heaped scorn on each other in the past. Paswan had cribbed that Lalu had robbed him of the railway ministry portfolio in the outgoing UPA government through his political machinations. As a result, they did not even remain on talking terms for most part of the Manmohan Singh regime.

But all that is forgotten now. The upcoming polls have made them scratch each other’s back, showing none of the rancour that defined their relationship over the years. Today, they do not get tired of heaping praise on each other’s performance as union ministers. They appear together at most of the election rallies singing paeans to each other.

Forgetting his bitterness over the ‘ denial’ of the railway portfolio to him, Paswan now acknowledges Lalu’s contribution to the department. He recently asked the electorate of Saran constituency to vote for Lalu for the great work done by him as the railway minister.

Paswan had accompanied Lalu when the latter went to file his nomination papers from Saran on Saturday last.Lalu will surely reciprocate when Paswan files his papers from Hajipur constituency on Thursday. Paswan says that his tie- up with Lalu is for good, and not merely for the upcoming parliamentary polls. He says that their parties will not repeat the mistakes of the last Assembly elections.

No wonder, “ Lalu- Paswan bhai- bhai” is the flavour of Bihar this poll season.

URL- http://epaper.mailtoday.in/epaperhome.aspx?issue=242009