A day after the Congress Working Committee created a ripple in the UPA by ruling out a national level alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, RJD leader Lalu Yadav rushed to seek a clarification from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
“There is no truth in these reports…’’ he said after meeting Sonia. He stressed that his party wanted the UPA allies to fight the elections together — and that included Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP in Bihar. “Paswan is part and parcel of the UPA… He is not an untouchable,’’ he said. He also urged Sonia to call a UPA meeting for seat sharing talks.
However, Lalu has said since the UPA is not a political party, but a combine of secular forces, each party would contest on its own manifesto and a CMP would be prepared after the polls. While Paswan has welcomed the decision, the NCP saw the party giving a wrong message.
Nitish asks BJP to wait
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has asked the BJP not to rush to declare its candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in advance. He wants his coalition partner to wait till his principal rival, Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD, finalises its names.
But miffed BJP leaders from Bihar say further delay in announcing names will add to the existing differences between the Janata Dal(U) and the BJP. “Nitish is running a one-man show and has already told prospective JD(U) candidates to work in their constituencies whereas we are on the hold,” said a BJP leader from Bihar.
{{/usCountry}}But miffed BJP leaders from Bihar say further delay in announcing names will add to the existing differences between the Janata Dal(U) and the BJP. “Nitish is running a one-man show and has already told prospective JD(U) candidates to work in their constituencies whereas we are on the hold,” said a BJP leader from Bihar.
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