On Laloo turf, Paswan’s tip for Cong: Dump RJD

‘‘The coming polls will sound the deathknell for Laloo and his RJD,’’ he said, asking the Congress to understand ground realities in the state.

Slamming Laloo, he said, ‘‘I was a member of the Bihar Assembly in late 60s when Laloo was yet not born politically. Besides, I won the 1977 parliamentary election from Hajipur with a record margin which the RJD chief could not even dream of achieving.’’

Paswan added that he was firm on his commitment to make a Muslim the state’s chief Minister.

The LJP president said Muslims had realised that Laloo had been using them merely as a votebank and done little for their welfare. ‘‘Laloo stands exposed in the eyes of Muslims, who provided his party with crucial support to continue in the government for the past 15 years in Bihar,’’ Paswan said.

He asserted that the upcoming polls would witness a direct contest between the Third Front—comprising LJP, CPI and CPI-ML among others—and the NDA and added that the RJD-led alliance would not be a ‘‘strong force’’.

BJP to contest 105 seats

PATNA: THE BJP’s Bihar unit on Sunday tentatively decided to field candidates for 105 seats in upcoming Assembly elections, state party chief Sushil Kumar Modi said today.

‘‘The NDA will not be able to form the government on its own unless the BJP wins 65 to 70 seats,’’ said Modi. The final decision on the number of candidates will be taken on September 14, when the state executive committee meets.