Stand on RJD dictated by post-poll realities: Cong

After RJD chief Lalu Prasad accused Congress of forgetting his party which was once a constituent of UPA, Congress today said its stand was dicated by political realities after Lok Sabha elections in which RJD faced a rout.

After RJD chief Lalu Prasad accused Congress of forgetting his party which was once a constituent of UPA, Congress today said its stand was dicated by political realities after Lok Sabha elections in which RJD faced a rout.

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"We have respect for him (Lalu) personally...But it was not Congress which broke the alliance in Bihar. It happened only when Congress got less seats in the state to contest," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.

On the complaint of Prasad, Tewari said "political decisions were taken following the political realities after the Lok Sabha elections".

Prasad recited a line from an old Bollywood number to tell the Congress leadership that they should not forget those who had helped them before.

"Jab matlab nikal gaya to pehchante nahin (when your purpose is served, you do not recognize me)" was the line from the song which Prasad recalled, looking towards the treasury benches where Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were sitting in Parliament.

Asked if RJD chief was upset for being overlooked in the cabinet-formation exercise, Tewari said "it is better to ask him".