Lalu Prasad Yadav backs Mamata Banerjee’s bid to lead I.N.D.I.A. bloc, says Congress’ reservations amount to nothing

New Delhi: Ripples created by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks that she is ready to lead the I.N.D.I.A bloc refused to abate on Tuesday with RJD chief Lalu Prasad saying she "could lead" the coalition and Shiv Sena (UBT) indicating that it is open to discuss the leadership question.

Lalu's surprise remarks in Patna came amid murmurs of Congress remaining upset with the coalition arrangement in Bihar and Congress Secretary and co-incharge Shahnawaz Alam claiming that his party may not be willing to play the role of "little brother" in the Grand Alliance.

Responding to a query on Mamata's comments that she was willing to take the responsibility to lead, Lalu told reporters, "yes, she should lead." When pointed about Congress' apparent reservations, he added, "Congress’ reservations amount to nothing. Mamata should be given the leadership role."

Considered a staunch Congress ally, Lalu's remarks created a flutter in political circles. So far, he has been insisting that Congress should lead the coalition. 

Congress' Bihar Legislature party leader Shakil Ahmed Khan was quoted by PTI as saying, “What does Lalu-ji mean by saying there should be a leadership change? Does he want Rahul Gandhi to be replaced as Leader of the Opposition, a post our leader holds by virtue of the party’s strength in the Lok Sabha?”

"When the I.N.D.I.A bloc was formed, there was a proposal to make Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the convenor. He, however, went back to the BJP-led NDA. Our party chief Mallikarjun Kharge was unanimously elected as the chairman of the I.N.D.I.A bloc," he added.

In Delhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said his party's ties with the Congress leadership, including Kharge and Rahul, were excellent. 

"Congress is a national party and has the highest number of MPs among the allies. Still, if the bloc is to be strengthened again, everyone wishes to discuss (issues related to) leadership, who can give time to the alliance...whether it could be Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Pawar or Akhilesh Yadav," Raut said.