Friday, October 31, 2008

Lok Janshakti Party

The Lok Jan Shakti Party is a political party in India. It is led by Ram Vilas Paswan. The party was formed in 2000 when Paswan split from Janata Dal (United). The party has considerable following amongst Dalits in Bihar. The 2004 Lok Sabha elections marked a major break-through for the party. It contested the polls in alliance with the Indian National Congress and the RJD and won 4 Lok Sabha seats. In the post-poll formed United Progressive Alliance led government, Ramvilas Paswan became the minister of Steel and Fertilizers. In the 2005 Bihar assembly polls the party contested in alliance with the Congress and against the RJD and won 29 assembly seats.

After no group was able to form a coalition government, President's rule was imposed. After a few months Bihar's state assembly was dissolved. The elections returned NDA supported Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister. This has been a major setback for Paswan.

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