Lalu Yadav says Congress has no existence in UP and Bihar

Patna, May 02 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday claimed that the Congress party has no existence in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Criticising the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Gulam Nabi Azad in a press conference here for his recent statement that aligning with regional parties in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh was a "big mistake" by Congress and it will not repeat it in future, Lalu said, "RJD is a national party and all should know that. The Congress virtually has no existence in the two states."

On Friday, Gulam Nabi Azad, while talking to the reporters here had said, "Congress should have tried to stand on its own in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar much earlier... There has been delay in severing the ties and we apologise from the people for the mistake (forging an alliance with regional parties)... The party will not be left to the mercy of regional parties."

Predicting that no single party would be able to form a government after the Lok Sabha polls, Lalu once again reached out to the Left, saying the door for them was always open.

"The era of coalition governments is here to stay for long and we want the Left and secular forces to come together. The door for the Left is always open, " he said.

Commenting on Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury's statement that the Left was not averse to aligning with even the Janata Dal (United) after the polls, Lalu asked, "Do you (the mediapersons) think that the Left will join forces with the communal parties."

"Nitish Kumar (Bihar Chief Minister) is sitting in the lap of communal BJP. The Left will never allow the communal forces to come to power." He asserted. (ANI)