Lalu responsible for split in secular votes

Patna, Nov 3: The LJP, CPI, CPI(M) and NCP today held the RJD and its supremo Lalu Prasad responsible for the split in secular votes in the byelections to Nalanda and Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seats, saying the Railway Minister's actions had weakened their fight in Bihar.

After the day-long campaign in Bhagalpur, LJP chief and Steel and Fertiliser Minister Ramvilas Paswan, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechuri, senior CPI leader D Raja and NCP national general secretary Tariq Anwar castigated Mr Prasad for creating split in secular votes in both constituencies.

They jointly told newspersons here that had the UPA gone to the battleground unitedly, its victory in both seats was a sure shot.

However, they claimed that even after split in secular votes their candidates would win the battle.

Mr Paswan parried queries about disintegration in the UPA in Bihar and said one thing was clear that all alliance partners of the UPA were now free to decide their own course of action in future elections.

He said instead of commenting whether the UPA had disintegrated or would disintigrate, it was a fact that Mr Prasad in future would not be in a position to give a call for secular unity to keep the communal forces at bay.

Admitting lack of coordination in the UPA, they said it was unfortunate and added being a major partner, Mr Prasad should have considered for the unity of the UPA.

The RJD had fielded Shakuni Choudhry in Bhagalpur, where the CPI, NCP and Congress had extended their support to the CPI(M) candidate, while in Nalanda the RJD had supported rebel JD(U) candidate Arun Kumar, contesting as an Independent candidate.

Other allies of the UPA were supporting the CPI candidate in Nalanda constituency.

UNI