Janata Dal (U) founding president and senior leader Sharad Yadav on Monday broke his silence on his party's alliance with the BJP in Bihar by declaring it as being "against the mandate" given to it by the people of Bihar.
Mr Yadav had maintained a studied silence since last week's events that saw Chief Minister Nitish Kumar break the 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance ) with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress and tie up with the BJP instead.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, he said, "I don't agree with the decision in Bihar. The mandate by the people was not for this."
Sources told The Hindu that RJD chief Lalu Prasad has had "two rounds of talks with Sharadji and asked him to join him".
Mr Yadav has been upset over the fact that Mr Kumar effected the break with the Mahagathbandhan and the tie up with the BJP without keeping him in the loop, and encouraging him to talk to the opposition parties on issues of common concern.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley spoke to Mr Yadav, but in the absence of a clear road map on what his role could be in the NDA, Mr Yadav was not mollified and has been tweeting on various issues calling the Central government to account.
