Paswan ‘jumps’ onto Modi bandwagon

• Keen to meet BJP’s PM candidate
• Chemistry working all the way for BJP
• LJP chief to bargain for 10 Lok Sabha seats

New Delhi: LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan is keen to meet BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Thursday at the party headquarters to sew-up pre-poll alliance with the BJP, the party,which he had parted-ways with in 2002, soon after the Gujarat riots.

Paswan is bargaining for the number of seats to contest for the Lok Sabha polls from Bihar.

Interestingly, more than the number-game, it will be the chemistry between the two leaders that will help in finalising the seat-sharing between the two parties that were ideologically poles apart, in the recent past.

Addressing the BJP workers in Gujarat, Narendra Modi made a curious comment. He said that the upcoming General Elections will be a "magnificent event" which would not be fought on the basis of numberof seats alone but the connect between party leaders and the electorate. "So many political pundits are analysing the outcome of the polls. But I can definitely say the next elections will not be based on mathematics (number game alone), but on chemistry (between parties, leaders and voters)," stated Modi.

Paswan has snapped his ties with the RJD, ruling out any alliance with Lalu Yadav but has not clarified whether he will have alliance with the BJP. Sources stated that the talks between the two parties are progressing but Paswan is insisting on 10 seats, which the BJP is reluctant to concede. The BJP State leadership is also divided on having alliance with Paswan though the central leadership is keen to seal the pact.

LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan did not reveal his cards after the Parliamentary Board meeting of the party. He said that his party has authorised him to seek fresh alliances. The LJP will go with the strong alliance, ruling out any pact with the Third Front.

Interestingly, the chemistry witnessed between the political parties, in the pre-poll scenario, is helping the BJP-led NDA rather than the Congress-led UPA.