Merger of 'Janata Parivar' parties a permanent alliance: Lalu Prasad

Lucknow: The coming together of erstwhile 'Janata Parivar' is a "permanent alliance", RJD chief Lalu Prasad said on Sunday, noting that such a united front to fight BJP was being missed for long.

"It is a permanent alliance. We have been missing it for long. Now its has been cemented," Lalu told reporter here. The Rashtriya Janata Dal President was here for a pre-engagement ceremony of his daughter Raj Lakshmi with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's grandson and Lok Sabha member Tej Pratap Yadav.

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are neighbouring states and it is a relationship of hearts, Lalu said on forging political unity as well as establishing family ties with Mulayam. Asked about the new political formation, the RJD chief said 'Netaji' (Mulayam) has been authorised to take further decision.

"Netaji has been authorised to take further decision. There is no ego problem now," he said. The two Yadavs are in the forefront of consolidation of opposition forces, bringing six constituents of the erstwhile Janata Parivar' under the banner of one party.

These parties include SP, Janata Dal (Secular), RJD, Janata Dal (United), Indian National Lok Dal and Samajwadi Janata Party. On being asked about the date of marriage he said it would be fixed by the pundits.

"It (the marriage) is fixed. Now pundits will tell the date, but it will be soon," he said. Lalu was received by senior cabinet minister and Mulayam's brother Shivpal Singh Yadav at the airport. Shivpal said BJP, which rode to power by misleading the people, would be exposed by the new front.

Lalu was accompanied by son Tejaswi Yadav and some close relatives among others.