Paswan's LJP to contest 100 seats in UP

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party will field 100 candidates in the coming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Paswan, the president of the LJP announced this in Patna on Friday. "The LJP will either contest alone or go in for alliances with like minded people," he said.

Paswan was reluctant to disclose his strategy for UP elections but said his party was in constant touch with many parties except the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party .

He said that LJP has strong social support base among Dalits and Muslim in several districts in UP. "We will contest to prove our vote bank in UP after Bihar," he said.

Paswan was hopeful that LJP will win enough seats in the elections to play important role in formation of a secular government.

He said that he will start campaigning in UP soon to consolidate his party position before the polls.