Rainbow coalition comprising Mayawati on cards in UP: Lalu

Varanasi, Apr 25 (UNI) A day after forecasting President's rule in Uttar Pradesh, Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad today did a volte face saying ''instead of central rule, a rainbow coalition comprising among others, the BSP, may assume power in the politically crucial state.'' ''No party will reach the magical figure in UP, but there will be no President's rule in the state either. A rainbow coalition comprising Congress, Left parties and even Mayawati-led BSP may be formed in the state,'' Mr Prasad said at a press conference here.

The RJD chief said none of three chief ministerial candidates Mayawati (BSP), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) and Kalyan Singh (BJP) were likely to become next chief minister in UP. ''A fourth face... who could even be an unexpected independent winner like Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda could become the next UP CM with the help of a secular rainbow coalition.'' Questioning the reliability of BSP candidates, Mr Prasad said ''there is no fault in Ms Mayawati, but her partymen especially the candidates fielded by her are not reliable and may shift loyalities to other parties to taste fruits of power. They have done so in past ... any may repeat it this time also,'' he maintained.

The RJD chief had yesterday claimed in neighbouring Jaunpur district that no party would get majority in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh assembly and President's rule will ultimately be imposed in the state.

Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Railway Minister said he has failed on all fronts and his party no longer believed in Lohia's ideology.

''It is a corporate house which is more concerned with Mumbai than UP, courtsey a man called Amar Singh,'' he claimed.

Alleging the SP and BJP were hand in glove, Mr Prasad said ''Mulayam will not come to power in UP again.'' ''Doobara SP ki jhooth ki haandi chulhe par nahi chadhne wali.'' Mr Prasad further mocked about Mulayam Singh Yadav's utterances that the RJD chief had prevented him from becoming Prime Minister in the past. ''Kaun tere ko PM ki maala pehna raha thaa,'' questioned Mr Prasad.

UNI