(Image source from: Can LJP-BJP alliance change the game in Lok Sabha polls 2014?})

Putting all speculations to rest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) finally joined hands, as BJP party president Rajnath Singh accepted LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan into the NDA fold.

Confirming the big news, an elated Rajnath Singh declared that the LJP will be a part of the NDA from now on. Extending a hearty welcome to Paswan and his party, the BJP leader also confirmed that even the Dalit front was part of the NDA now.

Talking to the media on the occasion, Singh also revealed that even Dalit leaders across the country were keen on allying with NDA. The BJP has decided to give seven out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar to Paswan's LJP.

Last noon, top BJP leaders from Bihar like Ravi Shankar Prasad, Shahnawaz Hussain, and Rajiv Pratap Rudy met Paswan at his residence to discuss the alliance.

A meeting was also held between Bihar LJP president Pashupati Kumar Paras, party Parliamentary Board chairman Chirag Paswan, Bihar BJP chief Mangal Pandey, Dharmendra Pradhan, Nand Kishore Yadav and senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

Later, Paswan too confirmed the news. "The LJP is a part of NDA. I am thankful to my party leaders for successfully forming an alliance with NDA. I thank all BJP leaders as well," he said.

If one may recall, in the past, even Paswan had vehemently condemned Narendra Modi for the 2002 Gujarat riots. However, now, such allegations have blotted out. "We have all been a part of the NDA family during Atalji's time," he said.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury