"We take exception to news reports carried in the media ascribing motives to absence of Ram Vilas Paswan from the rally held in Rampur on May 11," LJP Secretary General Abdul Khaliq said.
Terming the media reports as "speculative", Khaliq said, "Ram Vilas Paswan had prior commitments scheduled for the day and the invitation for the rally was received much later. Therefore, it was not possible for him to reschedule commitments already made."
He added that the leaders of all the three parties would hold a meeting on May 14 to discuss their "future course of action".
"The leadership of the three constituents would discuss jointly and decide the strategy on the formation of a secular government at the centre after the polling gets over," Khaliq said.
The LJP Secretary General added that the three parties would "jointly contest" assembly polls in Bihar, Jharkhand and UP.
Published 12 May 2009, 06:32 IST