National Dalit Front names Paswan as PM candidate

The National Dalit Front named its president Ram Vilas Paswan as the prime ministerial candidate of the political grouping.

The National Dalit Front on Wednesday named its president Ram Vilas Paswan as the prime ministerial candidate of the political grouping.

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Announcing this at a press conference in New Delhi, Front's general secretary Udit Raj said that "politics needs to be redefined" as the time has come to "give a touch to social issues".

"So far in politics, emphasis has been given to political and economical issues. But now the focus should be social issues and politics needs to be redefined. Therefore, Paswan is our candidate for prime ministership," he said.

The NDF comprises three Dalit political parties which include Indian Justice Party led by Raj, Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and Ram Das Athwale's Republican Party of India.

Raj said in the upcoming general elections, NDF would contest 350 seats across the country and the "sharing of seats would be on the basis of the party's strength at the place".

Terming Barack Obama ascent to the US President seat as a major boost to Dalit politics in India, he said: "Now, Dalits in India have strong feeling that a Dalit should become the Prime Minister."

The NDF general secretary charged that the Reservation Bill, 2008, which was recently passed in Rajya Sabha, has many "deficiencies".