Coalition era would continue for long: Lalu

Railways Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad does not rule out the possibility of regional parties coming together to form the next government, reports Srinand Jha. See Special CoverageSee Live Webcast

Railways Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad does not rule out the possibility of regional parties coming together to form the next government and says that any coalition leader "minus the BJP" would be acceptable as the Prime Minister.

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"I am in touch with some regional parties including Chandrababu Naidu, but will not reveal the details”, Prasad said.

Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Prasad said that nobody should have any doubt that the coalition era would continue for a long time. “Regional political forces have continuously been getting strengthened; new political parties are cropping up every now and then”, Prasad said. while adding: “The neglected states are coming to assume importance in the era of coalition of politics”.

Not ruling out his candidature as a possible Prime Ministerial candidate, Prasad said that such things are pre-destined. “If I have to become the Prime Minister, I will. Nobody knows about such things”, he said.

Describing Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi as an earnest young man, Prasad said that the young leader was today engaged in the same task that Mahatama Gandhi had undertaken after his return from South Africa: A journey for a discovery of India. Lauding the secular traditions of the Congress, he said that the Gandhi family had sacrificed a great deal.

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