Lok Sabha polls: Congress plays down absence of Lalu in Rahul, Sonia rallies

PATNA: Playing down the absence of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in election meetings of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul in Bihar, the state Congress today refuted any rift in the alliance and reminded that there was no example of joint address by the two leaders.

"There is no tradition of joint poll campaign," PCC Vice President and media in-charge Prem Chand Mishra told reporters.

He dismissed suggestion of any "rift" in the tie-up for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and said, "There should be no doubt about our alliance with the RJD due to this."

Rahul will hit the campaign trail in Bihar tomorrow with a rally at Aurangabad in favour of former Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar.

Sonia will address a rally in Sasaram on April 3 in favour of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

"Both Congress and RJD have full understanding over the alliance and campaigning is being done under a special plan. The leaders will go wherever they are needed the most," Mishra explained.

Prasad has already campaigned for Congress candidates in Aurangabad and Sasaram asking his supporters to vote for them, Mishra said.

The RJD chief had yesterday dodged a question as to whether he had been invited to rallies to be addressed by Sonia or Rahul. "Why are you asking questions that are confusing," he had said.

Mishra said the BPCC has invited Sonia and Rahul to campaign in all six phases of Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.

"We have requested them to address public rallies in all phases of elections here. Kishanganj, Purnia, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Supaul could be the possible places among others in this regard," Mishra said.

Meanwhile, the BPCC has requested the party central leadership to contest at least three out of the five Assembly bye-elections in Baisi, Chiraiya, Sahebpur Kamal, Kochadhaman and Maharajganj.