Lalu flays NCP for supporting BJP, Sena in RS poll

Revealing a serious schism in the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today said he disapproved of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joining forces with the Shiv Sena and the BJP on the issue of providing a Rajya Sabha seat to industrialist Rahul Bajaj.

Possibly concerned at the political ripples it has caused, Sonia Gandhi met former BRCC chief Murli Deora today to get an independent opinion on how to handle it.

During a press conference at Rail Bhavan on Tuesday, the minister said that the UPA coalition's bedrock was secularism.

"I was horrified to learn about the NCP's new relations with the Shiv Sena and the BJP. I do not approve of it," the minister said clarifying at the same time that he did not have any personal issues with Rahul Bajaj.

The minister said he would speak to Sharad Pawar about the issue soon.

Several Congress leaders are equally upset with the mismanagement by party managers that led to a breakdown of talks between the NCP and the Congress and caused a situation where a UPA ally was forced into the arms of the BJP.

This follows statements by NCP office-bearers including party leader DP Tripathi that the Cong-ress was treating its UPA allies as junior partners and not according them respect.

Most Congress leaders blamed party General Secretary Margaret Alva for encouraging the party to do a tit-for-tat action in revenge for the NCP's betr-ayal over a Legislative Council seat earlier. They said it was a shortsighted move.

The last word has not been said on Rahul Bajaj's election and could have bigger ramifications including a rejigging of the members of the United Progressive Alliance.