Nitish, Lalu shouldn't make alliance a prestige issue: Tariq

Says there is a need for secular parties to unite and counter communal forces in the country

NCP General Secretary Tariq Anwar today appealed to the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD President Lalu Prasad, not to make the forging of an alliance for the upcoming state Assembly elections, a "prestige issue".

"I am appealing to them (Kumar and Prasad) that they should not bring in prestige issue while trying to forge an alliance. Our fight is with the BJP. There is a need for secular parties to unite and counter communal forces in the country," Anwar told reporters here.

The NCP leader's appeal comes after the merger attempt of six Janata Parivar parties -- JD(U), RJD, SP, INLD, JD(S) and Samajwadi Janata Party --- virtually failed to take off, and bickering surfaced between JD (U) and RJD in their efforts to cobble an alliance to contest state polls.

"We must realise that the BJP is in power at the Centre and a strong opponent is a necessity. It garnered just 31 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha elections and achieved full majority. The secular parties should come together to counter this phenomenon," he said.

Anwar is in the state capital here to oversee the two-day national conference of NCP here at which the new president of the party will be elected and a new national executive formed.

Top NCP leader including Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal are scheduled to attend it.

Speaking further on JD(U) leader Kumar and Congress coming closer amidst speculations that the two parties may forge an alliance leaving out others, Anwar rather rooted for Lalu Prasad.

"Taking Lalu Prasad on board is necessary for any strong and viable alliance. Any rift among secular parties will harm all of us just like we saw in the last Lok Sabha elections," Anwar said.