Patna: Union minister and LJP(RV) president Chirag Paswan on Saturday announced that his party would contest all 403 seats in next year’s Uttar Pradesh assembly election. He also said LJP(RV) would enter the electoral fray in Punjab.Chirag said Uttar Pradesh had been close to the heart of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, who had contested the 1980 Lok Sabha election from Bijnor. “It is too early to comment on whether there will be an alliance in UP. Right now, our focus is on strengthening the organisation and preparing for all 403 assembly seats. It may take two to three months,” he said.The NDA partner said his party was also looking to expand its presence in Punjab and Uttarakhand. Recently, LJP(RV) MP and UP in-charge Arun Bharti raised the slogan “Pandit, Pasi aur Paswan” during celebrations marking Ram Vilas’ birth anniversary in Lucknow.Political observers view the party’s strategy as an attempt to attract dalit, extremely backward classes, non-Yadav OBC and young voters amid the BSP’s declining influence in the state.Explaining the slogan, Chirag said “Pandit to Paswan” represented people of every caste, religion and community. He is scheduled to visit Punjab to launch the party’s campaign after offering prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
