RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday vowed to unite Opposition leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“The revival of Mandal politics is the only answer to the kamandal politics of the BJP,” Mr. Prasad told the media, in an apparent reference to caste-based and Hindutva politics.
The former Bihar chief minister said he was still hopeful that Samajwadi Party chief Mr. Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Ms. Mayawati would come together.
“It is not possible in a day or two. It will take time. But I am confident they will join hands to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
>Ms. Mayawati has rejected suggestions that she should team up with Mr. Yadav to combat the BJP, which won 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in May. Two other seats went to a BJP ally. Mr. Prasad hinted that he would talk to Ms. Mayawati and try to convince her to change her mind regarding Mr. Yadav.
