No Cong candidate against Lalu and Paswan

Showing its gratitude towards RJD chief Lalu Prasad and LJP supremo Ram Vilas Paswan for their help in smooth running of UPA government at the Centre, Congress on Sunday, announced that it would not field any candidate against the two leaders.

"Our leader Sonia Gandhi has taken a decision not to put up candidates against Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan since they have helped in running the UPA government for its full five year term," Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Anil Sharma told reporters here on Sunday.

Incidentally, Lalu Prasad had earlier in the day declared his party's intention to field its candidates against the Congress in three seats held by it in the state.

Denying allegations that the party was fielding borrowed candidates from other parties, Sharma said barring five names in the list of 22 candidates announced so far, Congress has fielded its own candidates in all the remaining 17 seats.

The party is yet to announce candidates for the remaining 15 seats.