Bihar Assembly polls: Alliance brewing? Akhilesh Yadav promises to support RJD

Lucknow: Setting speculations to rest after his telephonic conversation with RJD founder Lalu Prasad Yadav’s estranged son Tej Pratap Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that his party will support the RJD in the forthcoming assembly polls in Bihar.

Two rounds of telephonic conversation between Tej Pratap Yadav and Akhilesh in the past couple of days triggered speculations that Tej Pratap might join the SP to contest as its nominee in Bihar assembly elections.

‘’Tej Pratap had called twice. I called back and had a courtesy call with him. We will support Tejasvi Yadav in Bihar,’’ the SP president told reporters here on Thursday.

He said that the SP had earlier also extended support to Lalu Yadav in Bihar. ‘’There is no change in our stand,’’ he added.

The speculations started after Tej Pratap Yadav said that Akhilesh Yadav had always been ‘very close’ to his heart and after his (Akhilesh) call he felt that he was not alone in his fight.

Akhilesh had also reportedly asked Tej Pratap about the assembly seat from where he wanted to contest. Tej Pratap replied that he had not yet decided about the seat. Tej Pratap also told Akhilesh that he would meet him before taking the decision.

There were reports that Tej Pratap Yadav could contest from Mahua or Hasanpur seats in the Bihar assembly polls.

After being banished from the family and the party, Tej Pratap had been holding meetings with his supporters and sharing pictures and posting messages on social media.