UPA govt stronger after FDI vote, no mid-term polls: Lalu

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday ruled out mid-term polls in the country and said the UPA government has emerged stronger after the parliamentary nod on the government's decision to allow the FDI in multi-brand retail.

"There is no question of mid-term polls taking place in the country as the UPA government has emerged stronger after the parliamentary nod on the government's decision to allow the FDI in multi-brand retail," he said.

The next general elections will be held as scheduled in 2014 and the same will be fought between the secular forces headed by the UPA and the BJP-headed 'communal' forces and the ruling coalition will emerge victorious, Prasad claimed.

The RJD supremo was, however, not explicit about pre-poll alliance among the UPA allies for general elections and said it may so happen that the political parties supporting the Congress-led government have option to either work out seat-sharing arrangements with friendly parties or contest the general elections on their own in the states and come together to form a secular government at the Centre.

"Whatever may be the options before the UPA constituents, one thing is clear that the Congress-led secular front will come back to power in the next general elections and keep the communal and fascist forces at bay," he said.

Prasad said the clarity about political situation in the country in the run up to the general elections in 2014 will emerge after the Gujarat Assembly polls later this month.

"The clouds will clear after the Gujarat Assembly polls," he said.

Prasad dared the BJP to come 'online' about Modi's prospects as its prime ministerial candidate.

He wondered whether the saffron party will be able to keep its allies together if it did announce Narendra Modi as its PM candidate, referring to strong opposition to Modi's candidature by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

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