'Congress trying to form secular front for Bihar polls': R.P.N Singh

Congress leader R.P.N Singh on Monday said that his party was trying to form a secular front for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

"Rahul Gandhi ji had met Bihar Chief Minister yesterday. The Congress is trying to form a secular front for the coming Bihar Assembly elections. We are talking to all political parties to bring all the secular parties under an umbrella to contest the Bihar elections," Singh said.

"As soon as we have further information on how those talks are progressing, we will let you know," he added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had yesterday met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at the latter's residence here during which the duo is believed to have discussed possible alliance between the two parties.

Lalu, who has so far remained non-committal on the Janata Parivar alliance, had earlier hinted that an alliance can be cobbled out to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at bay.

On April 15, six political parties-including the Janata Dal (United), RJD and the Samajwadi Party-had announced a merger to revive the united Janata Party. Mulayam was named the president of the merged entity.

However, not much progress has been made so far as serious differences cropped up on the question of who will be the chief ministerial candidate between the RJD and JD (U) for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.