NDA to disintegrate soon, says Lalu

Rashtra Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Monday  said the National Democratic Alliance led by Bharatiya Janata Party would soon disintegrate as there is discontent among its allies with the saffron party indicating that it may project Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate.

"The NDA is likely to be splintered soon as there is chaos and uncertainty among its allies over Modi's possible nomination as prime ministerial candidate of the alliance... The issue would lead to NDA's disintegration," he told reporters after RJD's national executive meet in Patna.

Prasad claimed there is also rift among the leaders of BJP over the issue.

"Even the pair of Nitish Kumar (JD-U) and Sushil Kumar Modi (BJP) is likely to split," he said, indicating formation of non-NDA parties' alliance in the next general election.

Prasad said talks regarding an alliance of LJP, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and RJD has already been set in motion.

On the possibility of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee joining the NDA, he said, "She is a very mature lady and will never take any step which will prove to be suicidal for her."

Sushil Kumar Modi had yesterday said Banerjee would always be welcome in NDA "if the situation arises".

"In politics, nobody is a permanent foe and nobody is a permanent friend. Once upon a time Banerjee was with NDA...If four or five years ago, she could have been in the NDA and if such a situation arises, we will always welcome her into the NDA," he had said.