Tuesday, January 18 2005 14:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Rubbishing the claim of the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) of having sewn up an alliance with the Congress, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan today (Jan 18, 2005) asserted that his party had reached "a perfect electoral understanding" with the Congress and the two parties would form the next Government in Bihar.

"We have reached a perfect poll pact with the Congress. We are contesting the poll with mutual understanding," Paswan told reporters in Patna.

The LJP leader said that he was in constant touch with senior Congress leaders, including Ahmed Patel. "LJP will not put up its candidates against the Congress' nominees, including the sitting MLAs, in the constituencies from where the latter (Congress) has decided to contest," he said.

"Similarly, the Congress too will not field its candidates against ours in other constituencies from where we have made up our mind to fight," Paswan said.

He rubbished the claim of RJD president Laloo Prasad of having forged an alliance with the Congress. "Where is such alliance? It is not visible," he remarked.

When his attention was drawn to the first list of candidates released by his party for 56 out of 64 seats going to poll in the first phase in Bihar on February 3 paving the way for a friendly fight in several constituencies. Paswan said, "We will withdraw our candidates from the fray from the 22 seats where Congress had already declared its candidates."

Paswan claimed that the LJP together with the Congress would form the next Government in Bihar.