SP quits Janata Parivar: Let down by 'Nitish-Lalu tactics', Mulayam opts to contest alone in Bihar

Lucknow, Sept 3: In a severe blow to the Janata Parivar alliance ahead of Bihar assembly elections, a visibly irked Samajwadi Party has pulled out of the secular alliance in the state.

Senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav announced on Thursday that Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav have let his party down, hence it will contest alone in the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow Ram Gopal Yadav said, "We were not consulted about seat sharing, felt insulted by Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar's tactics. Thus, Samajwadi Party Parliamentary Board has decided to contest Bihar polls independently."

Earlier on Aug 12, the grand alliance in Bihar -- comprising JD(U), RJD and Congress -- reached a consensus over seat sharing.

In the 243-member Assembly, JD(U)-RJD will contest over 100 seats each while Congress will field candidates on 40 seats, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told.

But no announcements were made over other allies like SP, JD(S). This has left Samajwadi Party visibly irked which has now decided to walk out of the alliance.

Earlier last year, RJD chief Lalu Prasad termed coming together of erstwhile 'Janata Parivar' as a "permanent alliance", noting that such a united front to fight BJP was being missed for long.

"It is a permanent alliance. We have been missing it for long. Now its has been cemented," Lalu told.

OneIndia News