Foiling desperate attempts by the Cong-RJD combine to get Ram Vilas Paswan on their side, the CPI has finalised its alliance with his Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) for the Bihar polls. Along with the RSP, Forward Bloc, CPI(M-L) and the Samajwadi Party, with whom talks have been initiated, the two will contest all Assembly seats in October.The party’s strategy, announced by CPI general secretary A B Bardhan after a two-day meeting of its national executive here, is to form a rival secular alliance to the one comprising the RJD, Congress and CPI(M) to prevent the anti-RJD vote from going to the NDA.‘‘We are opposed to the misrule of RJD. That is the main reason why we have formed a separate secular alliance,’’ Bardhan told reporters here today.Seat-sharing has been discussed with most parties and while there were differences, they would be sorted out by September 23 after which the final list would be announced. Incidentally, September 23 is the deadline given to Paswan by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to join the other front.Asked if Paswan should now leave the UPA government, as the CPI(M) has suggested, Bardhan countered: ‘‘Who has given this right? The UPA was formed only for the Centre. For state elections, parties are free (to chart out their own course).’’According to the CPI’s assessment, the overwhelming number of people in Bihar wanted the RJD to go. The voters, it feels, would would rather go for a secular alliance that would defeat the RJD and keep BJP-JD(U) out.Paswan to meet Sonia PATNA: Confirming that his party has joined hands with the CPI for the Bihar polls, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan said here on Sunday that he is determined to defeat ‘‘corrupt’’ and ‘‘communal’’ forces in the state.LJP sources said that Paswan, who is campaigning in the state, is likely to visit Delhi tomorrow to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and convey his decision. They added that Paswan has ruled out any possibility of succumbing to pressure and joining hands with the RJD-Congress alliance.Sources said the seat-sharing arrangement has been finalised, too. They said that the CPI will contest 35 seats and one will go to the Forward Bloc. In February, the CPI had contested in 16 seats and won three. The LJP may focus on 100 seats while striving to cut into the RJD’s votebank in others. —ENS
