Patna: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president and Union Minister for Chemical and Fertiliser, Ramvilas Paswan today (Sep 27, 2004) claimed that there was an under current in favour of his party and it would form the next Government in Bihar where polls are due in February next year.

LJP would contest all the 243 seats on its own and claimed that Muslims and Yadavs, the support base of the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), are disenchanted with the ruling party and were drifting towards his party as they think it could do a lot for their welfare, Paswan told reporters in Patna.

''We (LJP) will contest the elections on our own strength ... If Congress, an ally of RJD, wants to join us they are welcome. But we are not going to extend an invitation to them,'' he said.

In an obvious move to woo the Muslims to the party fold ahead of the polls, Paswan announced that if voted to power his party would earmark funds in the State budget for the uplift of minorities in accordance with their population.

Besides, the party would provide 10 per cent reservation to Muslims in Government jobs and would give the status of scheduled caste to dalit Muslims now enjoying the benefit of OBC (Other Backward Caste) status, he added.