Hajipur: RJD chief Lalu Prasad and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar today shared dais in Hajipur after more than two decades of political hostility.
Lalu and Nitish launched a joint campaign today for upcoming by-polls in 10 assembly constituencies.
The turnout at rally, however, was not very impressive and it's a signal that people are yet to make up their mind over whether to take the new alliance seriously or not.
Both Lalu and Nitish are scheduled to hold five joint public meetings at Hajipur, Mohiuddinagar, Narkatiyaganj, Chapra and Mohania as part of campaign for the elections in 10 seats scheduled for August 21.
Lalu and Nitish would campaign together on August 17 at Narkatiyaganj, Chapra and Mohania to seek votes for Congress candidate Mohammad Fakhruddin, RJD's Randhir Singh and JD(U)'s Chandra Shekhar Paswan respectively.
The joint campaign schedule was decided after talks between the alliance leaders. Congress leaders would also be present at some of these meetings.
It was in 1991 Lok Sabha polls that Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar were last seen together in campaigning. Nitish Kumar, who had contested from Barh constituency then, had lost.
It should be recalled that Nitish Kumar broke ranks with Lalu in 1994 when he formed a separate Samata Party.
Bihar's ruling JD-U's new allies RJD and Congress are contesting the by-polls together to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Their alliance was announced July 30 and their leaders said the move was necessary to strengthen secular forces and to defeat communal parties.
The JD-U and RJD, which parted ways in 1994, came together after the BJP swept the recent Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.
