Tuesday, September 6 2005 11:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In an apparent signal that it has lost patience with Ram Vilas Paswan, the Congress yesterday (Sept 5, 2005) made it clear that if the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader was not with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in Bihar in the coming Assembly polls, then it would field candidates against his nominees.

Obliquely telling the LJP leader to fall in line by joining the UPA in Bihar, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters in New Delhi, "If Paswan is not with us in the alliance, then he is against us. We will field our own candidates against him and will also campaign against the LJP."

He said adding the Congress was 'still open' to welcome Paswan in the Front. Blowing hot and cold, Singh said there would be a meeting soon between Paswan and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is also the UPA chairperson, in the backdrop of the LJP leader's persistent refusal to be a part of the UPA in Bihar.

He said 'no final view' about continuance of Paswan in the Union Cabinet has been taken.

"There have been discussions within the Congress party (on Paswan's continuance in the UPA in such a situation) but I cannot say. Strictly, this is a very sensitive kind of situation. It depends on the Prime Minister and alliance partners," Singh said in what was being seen as a stern message to the Union Minister holding key portfolios.

Replying to a question, the AICC General Secretary said the meeting between Gandhi and Paswan could be held today (Sept 6, 2005). He, however, made it clear nothing final has been decided and if the meeting is fixed for today, he would postpone his visit to Andhra Pradesh.

Singh's tough talk came a day after Communist Party of India -Marxists (CPI-M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury told Paswan in no uncertain terms that he should be a part of the RJD-led UPA in Bihar if he wanted to be a part of the UPA at the Centre.

When told that it was time that the Congress should take the bull by the horns, Singh quipped there are 'too many bulls around'.

But Paswan appeared unfazed by the hard-talk of the Congress and the Marxists. The LJP leader reminded them that he had helped form the UPA and there was no question of leaving it. "Neither will I leave the UPA nor will I go along with the corrupt RJD," he said.