Battle for 2014: In shifting alliances, smaller parties to play key role

Patna: While Ram Vilas Paswan is keeping the Congress and BJP guessing over who he will tie up with, a dramatic split in Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has signalled a political realignment in Bihar ahead of the general elections, due by May. More importantly, it has revealed how smaller parties are likely to play a key role in who forms the government at the Centre.

Mr Prasad, caught off-guard by 13 of his 22 legislators announcing that they were quitting the party on Monday, moved swiftly to contain the damage. He managed to get six of them back into the party fold. (Read)

But the dissidence may end up weakening the anti-BJP front in Bihar. With several RJD MLAs veering towards the ruling JD(U), the Congress, which is in seat-sharing talks with Mr Prasad, is now presented with another potential ally in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The situation could also split the Muslim votes in the state.

Adding to the political churning is a feverish speculation of Mr Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party looking to rekindle old ties with the BJP. The LJP chief had quit the BJP-led NDA in 2002 in protest against the communal riots that rocked Gujarat.

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Mr Paswan, reportedly miffed with the delay in a seat-sharing deal with the RJD and the Congress for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, is said to have initiated discussions with the BJP to forge a pre-poll alliance. (Read)

But his son, Chirag, who met BJP president Rajnath Singh few days ago according to unconfirmed reports, remained non-committal. "As of now, there is no clarity on our future strategy... the parliamentary board will decide... it's a known fact that the court gave Modi a clean chit."

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But the BJP is being cautious, with many of the view that Mr Paswan could well be playing hardball with the Congress.

"I have no information about any talks with the LJP," BJP chief said Rajnath Singh.