JD(U) inching closer to forging alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD: Vashisht Narayan Singh

The chief of the Bihar unit of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) party, Vashisht Narayan Singh, on Tuesday, said that his party is inching closer to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), but added that the timing of meeting RJD chief Lalu Yadav is yet to be decided.

Singh said, "Time has not been fixed (to meet Lalu) till now. When talks will be done with him (RJD chief) and time will be fixed, then, I will be able to say something. But this is for sure that we are coming closer and supporting each other. We expect that this will give way to our future plans as well."

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has brushed aside the threat of the new axis taking shape in Bihar ahead of the assembly by-polls. "There coming together is not going to affect the BJP; their existence is finished; they are coming together in desperation; It is a marriage of convenience," said BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav.

On Monday, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, had reportedly said that his party would fight the forthcoming by-elections for 10 Bihar assembly seats will be held on August 21, in alliance with the RJD and Congress, to defeat the BJP.

The JD(U) initiative to authorise state president Basistha Narayan Singh to initiate talks with parties opposed to the BJP has got a warm response from the RJD and Congress. It may noted that the likelihood of an alliance between the two parties gained currency ever since the former supported the Jitan Ram Manjhi government on the floor of House on May 20 last.