Patna: The LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) today (Oct 30, 2004) turned down the JDU's (Janata Dal-United) suggestion for resignation of Ram Vilas Paswan from the Union Government as a pre-condition for accepting the former's proposal for severing ties with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) for firming up an alliance for the coming Assembly elections in Bihar.

The LJP's summary dismissal of suggestion made by JDU Parliamentary party leader Nitish Kumar that his party was prepared to break away from the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Party) if Paswan quits the Union Cabinet.

''I don't accept the condition put by the JDU for an alliance. Why should I resign from the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government? Our fight is against the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) misrule in Bihar and LJP is a partner in the UPA Government headed by the Congress at the Centre,'' Paswan told today.

Paswan said that putting conditions for any tie-up would be detrimental to achieving the objective of ridding the State of the ''all pervasive corruption and anarchy'' unleashed during the Laloo-Rabri regime.

''Like Arjuna of the Mahabharata we have set our sight on dislodging the ineffective and incompetent RJD regime in Bihar; we have emerged stronger in Bihar politics and the LJP alone is capable of providing an alternative to Laloo Prasad,'' he said.

''They (JDU) have mooted an alliance with us and we want to make it clear that we will consider any such proposal only when the JDU parts ways with the BJP,'' Paswan said.

Nitish Kumar, on the other hand, maintained that the fight against Laloo-Rabri regime demands that Paswan quit the Union Ministry, as the Centre will have to be targetted for its failure to provide a special package to Bihar in view of the devastation caused by floods and drought.

Kumar said his party would also accept any proposal to project Paswan as future Chief Minister of Bihar in the event of an alliance with LJP.

Paswan further said the BJP had no place in the ''third alternative'' as over 99 per cent of the Congress workers did not want their ties with the RJD to continue.