RJD renews call to Cong to forge alliance in Bihar

Last Updated: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 15:28

Tags: RJD, Congress, alliance, Bihar

Patna: Notwithstanding the Congress' intentions to go it alone in Bihar, RJD on Satuday renewed its call to the party to firm up an alliance with major secular parties in the state to keep the communal forces at the bay.

"I appeal to the Congress leaders to work for greater unity among the secular parties and be part of a broader alliance to defeat the NDA represented by communal and fascist forces at the bay", state RJD president Abdul Bari Siddiqui told reporters here.

Siddiqui, however, said the appeal should not be construed as 'a weakness' on the part of RJD as the party alone was capable of giving a befitting reply to the NDA.

"At the same time, the Congress should also evaluate its strength in Bihar and don't get swayed by its presence at the Centre as the ground reality in the state is far more different from other states," he said.

Seeking to rubbish people's perceptions that the RJD had weakened following the debacle at the hands of NDA during the last Lok Sabha polls, Siddiqui said RJD had emerged as the largest among other parties in terms of votes polled.

The Congress had contested the last LS elections from 37 out of 40 seats and the party lost its deposits at 30 places, he said. "The biggest national party could win only two seats, but trailed by a large margin of votes in rest of the five constituencies".

Bureau Report

First Published: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 15:28

Comments

PP TALWAR - India
`Once bitten, twice shy` should be the motto of the congress party before agreeing to forging an alliance with the regional parties in the states, particularly in Bihar where Lalu prasad yadav and Ram Vilas paswan, together had ditched congress party once during 15 Lok sabha elections. By learning from their successful experience in UP where congress party by going alone, on its own strength during 15 Lok sabha elections had bagged, record 21 seats, as against 9 previously held, congress party should not align with any regional party, anywhere. Instead, congress should fight state/general elections alone, on its own strength and the results will be rewarding.