Results in Jharkhand a victory of secular forces: Lalu

Calling the results and trends in Jharkhand a "victory of secular forces", RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today indicated that he was ready to forge an alliance with Congress and JMM for forming a government in the state.

Calling the results and trends in Jharkhand a "victory of secular forces", RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today indicated that he was ready to forge an alliance with Congress and JMM for forming a government in the state.

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"The results are a victory for secular forces. We will explore the formation of a secular government in Jharkhand," Prasad told reporters in Patna.

He suggested that the leaders of secular alliances -- Congress-JVM(P), RJD-LJP and JMM should sit together and explore installation of a secular government.

He said the scene would have been different had the secular parties contested the elections together.

Asked whether he was in touch with Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Prasad said "let the final picture of the results emerge first, then only top leaders should discuss.

"I have not spoken to anybody on government formation though I am receiving calls from leaders of secular parties and groups from Ranchi," Prasad said.

Stating that a hung assembly was a foregone conclusion as political parties and groups decided to go separately to the hustings, the RJD chief said "We are, however, satisfied with our performance."

"I am content that the communal forces represented by the BJP have been wiped with the people rejecting both the BJP and JD(U)," he said.