Feud will not affect poll prospects: Lalu

BIHAR, PATNA, 09/09/2015: RJD Chief Lalu Prasad talking to media persons after announcement of Bihar Legislative Assembly General Election 2015, in Patna on September 09, 2015. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad said here on Tuesday that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav would remain the party chief till the Assembly elections. Mr. Prasad said the family feud would not have any adverse electoral impact on the Samajwadi Party as it had its own core voters for long.

“Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that he would remain the party chief for the next three months but after the Assembly elections, he would call a party meeting and hand over the president’s post to his father [Mulayam Singh],” Mr. Prasad told presspersons at his residence.

Phone call

He had a telephonic conversation with Mr. Akhilesh Yadav on Monday evening.

“Mr. Akhilesh also told me that he is still with his father and the party,” Mr. Prasad said.

The RJD chief, whose younger daughter has married into Mr. Mulayam Singh’s family, said no other party, even the BJP, would have any electoral advantage from the Samajwadi Party’s bickering as both the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party have their own core voters.

Mr. Prasad also hailed Mr. Mulayam Singh as a mature leader.