Will UPA's defeat in Bihar have a bearing on Paswan's Cabinet berth?
by Pankaj Yadav

     New Delhi: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president and Union cabinet minister Ramvilas Paswan today appeared a bit worried at his New Delhi residence as the TV channels began beaming the Bihar Assembly poll results, which showed his party in a poor position. The reason for his worry were the speculations making rounds in the UPA circles that he should be thrown out of the UPA since his tough stance against the RJD and going alone in the elections led to the defeat of the UPA in the second round of Bihar elections. Speaking to media persons at his official residence 12 Janpath, Paswan said that his Union cabinet berth should not be seen in conjunction with the outcome of the Bihar polls. He maintained that the Congress should now understand his viewpoint that the UPA did not exist in Bihar, a fact that he had been repeatedly saying since the poll process began. Citing reason for his argument that his cabinet berth would remain intact, he said that when Lalu's stance led to UPA's thrashing in Jharkhand polls, he was also not removed from the Union cabinet. "When Lalu's role during Jharkhand polls led to UPA's defeat, was he removed," he shot back to a question from a reporter who asked whether the Bihar polls results would have a bearing his future in the UPA or in the Union cabinet. As per latest reports, Paswan's party was ahead on only on nine seats out of 146 seats in respect of which trends were available.