Paswan challenges Congress in Bihar

What is, however, certain is that LJP will clash not merely with the RJD but with Congress candidates in the polls. ‘‘The Congress has rejected my offer of not fielding LJP candidates in seats won by it last time. But Congress has said it will contest against us. So we will also challenge them,’’ Paswan told reporters after the meeting, adding that he would not resign as Union Cabinet because two groups of UPA partners would fight each other in Bihar.

But, the main effort would be to stop the RJD from returning to power. He said the RJD’s time was up and this was best seen in the attendance at public meetings addressed by Laloo Prasad Yadav. The alliance, according to him, would come to power in the state.

CPI national secretary D Raja said the alliance’s seat sharing arrangement was in the final stages and there was ‘‘broad political agreement’’ between the parties on the issue. The seat-sharing details were being worked out in Patna and would be announced there, he said. Regarding the CPI(ML), a Left leader admitted there were some differences on issues.

Despite his serious differences with UPA partners in the state, the leaders promised that the alliance would function as usual at the Centre. ‘‘We have no plans to install this arrangement at the Centre. It is only for Bihar,” Paswan said.