Call on merger with JD-U soon: Lalu

Patna, May 27

Amid confusion over Janata Parivar constituents JD-U and RJD’s strategy ahead of the Bihar polls, Lalu Prasad today said a decision on “merger or (seat) adjustment” would be taken soon.

He rubbished reports that the talks were stuck over projecting Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate.

Admitting the exercise was not easy, Prasad told reporters that considering the fact that not much time was left for the Bihar elections, they would soon sit together to decide on merger or seat adjustment.

“We will decided on merger or adjustment after assessing all aspects such as safeguarding respective party symbols... its not a big issue,” Prasad said on arrival from Delhi.

The RJD chief rubbished as “mischievous rumours” spread by the BJP and RSS suggestions that the last meeting on merger got stuck over projecting Nitish as the chief ministerial candidate.

He said neither JD-U nor Nitish ever put CM candidature condition before him or other leaders.

“We will take a decision at an appropriate time,” the RJD chief said. “The bigger issue is to defeat BJP and not who will be CM or occupy what post.”

“I had the chance to ditch Nitish first in the RS bypolls and later during the confidence motion sought by Jitan Ram Manjhi. But the RJD stood with the JD-U and is still supporting its government in Bihar,” he said. — PTI