Lalu a back-stabber: Paswan

DARBHANGA: Lok Janshakti Party president and Union minister Ram Bilas Paswan shrugged off the prospect of his becoming the chief minister of the state, saying it is not befitting his status.
Addressing an impressive rally at Raj Maidan here on Sunday, Paswan simply discarded the proposed offer of chief ministership by his archrivals in national politics.Without naming the parties or leaders, Paswan pooh-poohed the offer of chief ministership to him in the event he forged an electoral alliance with the latter during the forthcoming assembly elections in the state.
"I am a straightforward person and I stand by my own principle," he said and added: "As a member of Union cabinet in Vajpayee government, I had urged the NDA leadership to remove Gujarat CM Narendra Modi after post-Godhra incidents. I was ultimately compelled to relinquish the ministership when BJP did not pay any heed to my advice.
"Why should I aspire to become a chief minister when as a senior cabinet member under various Union governments, I have had the privilege of sitting beside the Prime Minister of the country," he further elaborated.
However, in the same vein, he also announced to go it alone during the forthcoming assembly elections.
In his speech, Paswan attacked the earlier NDA government at the Centre for its failure to protect the interests of minority community.
He did not mince words while describing RJD supremo Lalu Prasad as a back-stabber. He (Lalu) was instrumental in ensuring the defeat of four LJP candidates out of eight in Bihar. "Lalu should not forget that when he fought the electoral battle along with me, the victory was a certainty. But when I have parted ways with Lalu, RJD supremo will have to taste certain," Paswan said.