Secularism and communalism 'poll ploys', says Paswan

The LJP chief said that development was the key word today and that was what had led him to side with NDA.  

Regardless of the decision to align with BJP, his party “was, is and will remain in future a secular party”, he said.  

Paswan, whose party got seven seats on which to contest out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar as part of its tie-up with BJP, said that “many more will join NDA before the elections and many others will come after the polls to ensure two-thirds majority for NDA at the Centre”.  

Paswan said that the concept of ‘untouchability' was no longer relevant as the parties comprising the Dalit front, of which he is the president, have all joined hands with BJP.  Besides himself, RPI leader Ramdas Athawale and Dalit leader Udit Raj, too, were now with BJP, he said.