Wednesday, September 7 2005 19:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With political atmosphere heating up ahead of Assembly elections in Bihar, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today (Sept 7, 2005) met Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

The hour-long meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of Congress hardening its stand on Paswan joining the RJD-led alliance in the polls and the Union Minister refusing to fall in line.

RJD President Lalu Prasad and a section of Congress leaders from the state have suggested ouster of Paswan from the UPA in case he refused to budge from his stated anti-RJD stand.

Paswan said yesterday that he would impress upon Congress it would be better for them to concentrate on next general elections rather than getting involved in a state poll. "Congress should think long term and not short term. It should think of the next polls (general elections) and not get bogged in state election," he said.

On AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh's remarks that if Paswan did not accept an RJD-led alliance Congress would field candidates against his nominees, he had said "I have made up my mind that I will keep demanding a Muslim as Chief Minister in Bihar, and there is no going back on it."

However, he added, "where does the question of leaving UPA arise." Paswan is also working towards a second secular alliance with CPI and CPI (ML).