Bihar CM Nitish Kumar (left) and RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
The JD(U) and RJD will contest the Bihar Assembly elections this year as part of an alliance with a six-member committee, consisting of state leaders, to be set up for identifying the seats for candidates from both parties.
The announcement of the alliance, which was decided by the top leadership of both parties and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, was made by SP’s floor leader in Rajya Sabha Ram Gopal Yadav who, ironically, had previously opposed the Janata Parivar unity plan.
“Today, it has been decided that the RJD and the JD(U) will contest the Bihar polls in alliance,” Ram Gopal Yadav said, after a two-hour meeting at Mulayam’s residence attended by JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.
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“All issues have been sorted out. We are going to fight the elections in Bihar as an alliance,” he added.
Asked about the committee, Ram Gopal Yadav said it would have three members each from the JD(U) and the RJD. As for the chief ministership, he said, “There is no dispute… These things will be taken care of later.”
Sources said the projection of Nitish as the alliance’s CM face was a foregone conclusion.
Prior to the meeting, Nitish met with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence for about an hour, in a clear signal that the Congress was with the Bihar CM.
Given the kind of bonding the Congress and Lalu had shared for years, this shift is being seen as a setback for the RJD leader, considerably reducing his bargaining power for seats this time.
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