Miffed Lalu blames Cong for Bihar's plight

The Lalu-Sonia rift widened further when the RJD supremo hit back at the UPA Chairperson for criticising his tenure as Chief Minister in Bihar, saying Congress is to be blamed for the state's plight.

"There has been Congress governments after Independence. They were in power for most of the  time. What did they do?" Lalu said.

Gandhi had on Saturday targetted both the present NDA government in Bihar and its predecessor RJD regime at an election rally in Jamui in Bihar, saying "what happened to Bihar in the last 10-15 years is no secret."

Prasad said Gandhi's criticism was unfounded.

On his alliance with LJP and Samajwadi Party, Prasad said the front will sweep elections in Bihar.

"There is a wave in our favour. We will sweep the elections..Some people are worried because of our alliance," Prasad told the Times Now.

Asked whether Nitish Kumar-led government has been able to take Bihar on the road of development, the RJD chief said the real situation has not changed.

"Nitish has failed in every front. People are fed up."

Replying to a question on why the Fourth Front parties failed to arrive at seat adjustments with Congress, Prasad said "the Congress is eyeing 2014 elections and wanted to build the organisation (in Bihar and UP)."

He, however, reiterated that the Fourth front is with the UPA. "Our front is part of the UPA."

Commenting on the Third Front, he said "there is no problem in our relationship with... Especially the CPI(M)... But we do not have any links with the so called Third Front."

Prasad said the SP, LJP and RJD will remain united after the polls and there was no question of going to the NDA. He said the door with Left is still open.

Asked whether he is also a Prime Ministerial candidate, Prasad said he would like to become Prime Minister one day but not now.

"Now our main aim is to defeat the communal forces. They are again raising the issue of building the (Ram) temple, bringing back POTA," he said.