Bihar election: Why Lalu and Sonia will campaign alag, alag

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Monday declared that he will not be campaigning with Congress president Sonia Gandhi during the five-phased Bihar Assembly election, scheduled to begin from October 12. Notably, both Lalu and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had skipped Rahul Gandhi's first election rally last month.

When Lalu was asked whether he will accompany Sonia during her upcoming rallies in the poll bound state, he replied, "Hum alag, alag jayengey...poora cover karna (We will go separately, have to cover the whole state)."

Lalu Yadav on if he will campaign with Congress President Sonia Gandhi for #BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/ahStsfaim5 ANI (@ANI_news) October 5, 2015

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Lalu's remark raises questions over the unity within Mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance which is fighting the elections against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While the NDA is yet to announce its chief ministerial candidate, the Congress, JD(U), RJD have agreed on Nitish Kumar continuing on the post if the alliance comes to power.

The first rally of the mega alliance in Patna last month witnessed both Lalu and Nitish sharing the stage with Sonia Gandhi. Following the rally, both RJD and Congress have avoided each other. Sources within the Congress suggest that Sonia, Rahul not sharing stage with Lalu is a deliberate attempt by the two to avoid any controversy over corruption.

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However, both Congress and JD(U) have denied any differences among the parties. "This is not true. The RJD have their own public meetings and so do we. If you recall, both Sonia and Rahul had initially shared the dais with the other parties in the 'mahagathbandhan'. Just because they are not spotted together all the time does not mean there is a matter of concern," Congress leader Rashid Alvi said.

Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi also backed Alvi's assertion, saying all the three parties in the grand alliance are in harmony.

"The RJD and JD (U) have no issues in sharing the stage with Sonia and Rahul. This is clearly some ploy by the opposition," Tyagi added.