(Image source from: Will LJP join NDA fold?})

The BJP is likely to form poll alliance with a prominent Dalit leader following an indication from Ram Vilas Paswan, the chief of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) on Sunday to join the NDA fold.

Paswan was unhappy with the UPA after his demand for 10 seats in Bihar met with a lukewarm response by RJD chief Lalu Prasad. The Dalit leader had called for 10 seats for the LJP in a RJD-Congress-LJP alliance in Bihar.

LJP leader believe that a pre-election alliance with the BJP will give electoral benefits to the Dalit party. For the BJP the alliance will assures them of Dalit votes in Bihar.

LJP leader Surajbhan reportedly stated that the party has decided to ally with BJP and that the matter has been finalized. However, Paswan’s son Chirag Paswan said refuted Surajbhan's claims saying that nothing is final at present.

For Ram Vilas Paswan, the 2014 Lok Sabha elections is a crutial battle as his LJP had performed poorly in the 2009 general elections as well as during the 2010 Bihar assembly elections.

According to a BJP leader, Paswan wants to be on the right side in the forthcoming LS election as it's a do-or-die situation for the prominent Dalit leader.

Meanwhile, the BJP is all set to tie-up with Chandrababu Naidu led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The TDP is likely to be the first party to join the NDA fold after the BJP parliamentary board meeting on February 27 that will discuss the issue of pre-poll alliances.

A senior BJP strategist reportedly said that all three parties (BJP, TDP and AGP) will gain from the alliance. The alliance between the three parties is expected to help the NDA win 272 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, crucial to form government at the centre.

(Picture Source: livemint.com)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)