Lalu Prasad says RJD will not contest in upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls
JD(U) President Nitish Kumar's frequent visits to the state have led to rumours that he would like to play a key role in the election.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal will not not field any candidates in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, said party President Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday. He added that his party would rather help "secular" forces defeat the "communal" Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
However, the RJD leader hinted at a possible alliance in the state and said his party will take "special care" of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. "SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is my samdhi and I will definitely take special care of him." Lalu Prasad Yadav's youngest daughter Raj Laxmi got married to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s grand-nephew Tej Pratap Yadav in 2014.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar, President of Janata Dal (United) – which is in an alliance with the RJD in Bihar – visited Lucknow on Tuesday to celebrate Chhatrapati Sahu Jee Maharaj's birth anniversary, reported PTI. The event was organised by RK Chaudhary's Bahujan Samaj Swabhiman Sanghrash Samiti. Chaudhary recently resigned from the Bahujan Samaj Party after accusing party chief Mayawati of auctioning tickets to those who want to contest the elections.
Nitish Kumar has made at least six trips to Uttar Pradesh recently, fanning rumours that he would like to play a key role in the upcoming Assembly polls. Uttar Pradesh elections will be held early next year.