RJD, JD(U), Cong to unitedly contest Bihar polls: Sharad Yadav

 Congress, JD(U), RJD and NCP will contest Bihar assembly elections together, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said on Thursday after weeks of dilly-dallying on the issue of formation of a secular alliance to take on BJP.

"The unity is bound to happen as it is the need of the hour. The nation needs it. All of us will contest election together. Congress, JD-U, RJD, NCP and others will fight together," Yadav told a news agency. The JD(U) chief's assertion <g data-gr-id="36">come</g> a day after a key Lalu aide and MLC Bhola Yadav met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has begun consultations with party legislators and MPs to get feedback 

from them about the situation arising out of the delay <g data-gr-id="21">in formal</g> announcement of a tie-up. 

Rubbishing speculations that alliance talks had failed, Lalu had said on Wednesday in Patna that reality was different from what was being propagated by the "vested interests" and that he was "committed to fighting communal forces". His statement was seen as an indication that an alliance was likely.

Scotching speculation about RJD and JD(U) going separate ways, Sharad Yadav said, "The unity (of Janata Parivar parties) has already been announced.