LJP’s vote bank will shrink as NDA ally: Shaktisinh Gohil

PATNA: Congress in-charge for Bihar and Rajya Sabha member Shaktisinh Gohil on Sunday said the Lok Janshakti Party’s (LJP) vote bank in the state would shrink if its founder and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan continues to remain with the BJP as the NDA government at the Centre remained silent on the Supreme Court’s recent observation that ‘reservation is not a fundamental right.’
Talking to TOI over phone, Gohil said the LJP’s major support base in Bihar is among those people who are strong supporters of reservation policy. “LJP will have to face erosion in vote-bank if Paswan continues to remain with the BJP during the forthcoming assembly election,” he said.
Gohil’s statement assumes political significance ahead of the assembly polls in the state as there are reports of fissures in the NDA due to certain statements issued by JP chief Chirag Paswan. It is widely believed in political circles that Chirag is not on good terms with ally JD(U).
Recently, Chirag had said that the LJP’s alliance in 2014 was with the BJP and not with the JD(U). The JD(U) became part of the NDA again in 2017 when Nitish Kumar walked out of the Grand Alliance comprising the RJD and the Congress, and joined hands with the BJP. Weeks ago, Chirag criticized the Bihar government the way it handled the return of migrant workers from other states.
Referring to recent statements of Chirag, Gohil said differences may crop up in the NDA as the BJP utilises its allies as per its requirements. “Take the case of Shiv Sena. The BJP utilized Shiv Sena and later broke the promises made with that party. The BJP will do similar things with its allies in Bihar.” Gohil said.
On being asked whether the allies of GA would accept the LJP, Gohil, who recently won Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, told TOI, “If Paswan knocks our door seeking an entry, the allies of the GA will sit together and take a decision on the issue of LJP’s entry.”
On the other hand, Union minister for home affairs and senior BJP leader Nityanand Rai, while addressing a virtual rally in Purnia, on Sunday assailed the Congress and the RJD for spreading rumours that all is not well within the NDA.
Rai said the ruling NDA alliance was in order and would contest the forthcoming assembly elections in Bihar together.”
“I want to tell the leaders of the RJD and the Congress that they should not spread rumours and should worry about their grand alliance. There is no split in the NDA, we are one and we will jointly contest elections and repeat the performance of 2010 assembly polls again in 2020,” Rai said.