Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav rush to mend Parivar ties

After a split in the anti-Modi camp ahead of polls in Bihar, JD (U) president Sharad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad were in damage control mode. The leaders met Mulayam Singh Yadav in New Delhi to salvage the alliance but failed to get any assurance from the SP supremo.

On Thursday, Samajwadi Party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav had announced that his party was walking out of the alliance as it felt humiliated after not being consulted by larger partners over seat sharing. The party was given only five seats to contest for the upcoming polls.

"He (Mulayam) is our guardian. He has all the more responsibility to ensure this (that the alliance continues). Communalism is a threat to the country. Everyone wants to finish it. We have told Netaji to reconsider it so that a socialist and secular government is formed in Bihar," Lalu, who rushed to Delhi from Patna for the rescue attempt, said after a two-hour meeting with Mulayam.

Lalu, whose daughter is married to the SP chief's grand nephew, also referred to his personal relationship with Mulayam, saying he has all the rights to prevail upon him.

While there was no word from the SP following the meeting, JD-U President put up a brave face saying everything will be settled. "Talks are on. You will get some good news in a day or two. This has nothing to do with seats. There are some internal matters which are not to be discussed with the media," Yadav, who also tried and persuaded him to continue in the anti-BJP front, said.

The SP had shown its reluctance towards formation of the alliance in the beginning. Sources said the party was not in favour as Mulayam was not comfortable with being seen in the company of the Congress.