Once an ally of the BJP-led NDA front, Paswan, a Rajya Sabha MP, claimed it was the demolition of the Babri Masjid which went against the party's prospects.
"An issue can be worked out only once. Had the Babri Masjid not been demolished, BJP would not have been reduced to this dismal state. They could have banked upon votes on that issue. But with its demolition, Babri Masjid as an issue also ceased for BJP."
"It was a mistake by BJP. Had the Babri Masjid not been demolished, BJP would have kept coming to power," claimed Paswan.
On what could be the next move by Lok Janshakti Party regarding their alliance with either BJP or Congress, the former Union Minister said, "We will sit together and discuss the issue. We will see what move Congress makes, but Congress and ours has been an old alliance, we do not want to lose them. We will first talk to Congress and see their move, only then we will decide our strategy."
However, he made it clear that his support post elections would be only with "secular forces".
"We have said our alliance is with secular forces. And we will try that our alliance with Congress continues," Paswan said.
He alleged that Congress has been "dithering" over taking a clear stance on joining the LJP-RJD alliance in Bihar.
"I think there are three types of people in the Congress party. Some want Congress to contest alone, some want Congress, LJP and JD(U) to fight together and some want Congress, LJP-RJD to come together. I think after these elections, Congress will discuss this," he said.
The former minister of Railways also attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for being "in the garb" of secularism and not taking a "secular stand" after 2002 Gujarat riots.
"Nitish Kumar today shows like he is 'tees maar khan' (clever jack), but we both were ministers in 2002 and I had resigned from my post on the Gujarat issue, why didn't he resign back then?" Paswan said.
