Patna: The much awaited alliance between Bihar's ruling Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress to contest the by-elections in 10 assembly constituencies was finalised on Saturday.
"The alliance has been finalised. We will contest the by-polls together," Food and Civil Supply Minister Shyam Razak told media persons after he met RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav here.
Razak made the statement after former chief minister Nitish Kumar spoke with Lalu over telephone on Friday night.
"Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad have finally approved the alliance," a JD-U leader close to Nitish Kumar said.
JD(U) leaders said a formal announcement in this regard will be made on July 30.
RJD leader Prabhunath Singh and Abdul Bari Siddiqui also expressed the same views.
Razak held discussions with Lalu Prasad at the official residence of his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi for nearly two hours on Saturday.
Both JD(U) and RJD leaders said their alliance was a must to strengthen secular forces and defeat communal parties in the state.
Earlier, Nitish also said all secular parties needed to come together in the state.
Last month, the RJD had supported the JD(U)'s two candidates in the Rajya Sabha by-polls.
