Patna: The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Nov 8, 2004) ruled out the possibility of it approaching Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan for an electoral alliance in Bihar for the coming Assembly polls, bringing to the fore sharp differences between the two NDA (National Democratic Alliance) allies-- BJP and JDU (Janata Dal-United)-- over ties with LJP.

"On its part, BJP will not take any initiative for an electoral tie-up with LJP. The party is a constituent of the ruling UPA (United Progressive Alliance) at the Centre and Paswan is himself a Cabinet Minister. In these circumstances, I don't think it is proper to approach him for an alliance though BJP favours unity among all parties working in the national interest," former BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu told a press conference in Patna.

JDU parliamentary party leader Nitish Kumar had recently mooted the proposal of giving Paswan the leadership of an anti-Laloo grand alliance comprising BJP, JDU and LJP. JDU president George Fernandes had also last week offered to project Paswan as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the grand alliance provided he quit the UPA.

Downplaying the differences with JDU, Naidu expressed confidence that the two parties would unitedly contest the Assembly elections.

Referring to the misgivings expressed by the JDU recently over BJP's 'Hindutva' agenda, Naidu said, "BJP does not want to impose its ideology on friendly parties but at the same time it is free to have its own."

"Hindutva has never been an electoral issue for the NDA and the coming elections would be no exception. If any ally has any doubts on this account those would be cleared," he said.