Janata Parivar leaders' meeting revives hope

Triggering hopes of a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in UP, former Janata Parivar leaders Lalu Yadav, Deve Gowda and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came together for Mulayam Singh’s nephew Aditya Yadav’s wedding reception on Sunday.

Though leaders dismissed any political significance in their convergence on the wedding reception, SP and RJD sources said the “milan” (meeting) after bitter exchanges between SP and JD(U) indicates a thaw.

“There may not be any political discussions during the function, but it definitely signals warming of their relationship,” said a senior SP leader who spoke to Deccan Herald here.

Lalu Yadav dropped hints that he was ready for a Bihar-like alliance in UP. “It is a social function. (But) BJP needs to be defeated,” he said when asked about the alliance talks upon arrival here.

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh was also present at the reception party. Major players in UP, including the SP and BSP, have ruled out any pre-poll alliance and have instead decided to go it alone in the Assembly elections due next year.