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Sonia Gandhi defends Lalu's alliance
by Ajay Kumar

     Patna/Gaya: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday indulged in exposing the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while re-emphasising that her party's alliance with Lalu Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal was cemented keeping the interests of the people of Bihar in mind. Alleging that the NDA was chair-inclined, Gandhi said there was a big difference between the people questioning the Congress-RJD tie-up for the Bihar poll and the NDA seating arrangment with the Janata Dal United at its helm in the state. "Those raising an accusing finger at us on the issue of poll alliances need to be told that there is a great difference between them (NDA) and the Congress. We are aware of our responsibilities and what we have done is in the interest of the state, the society and the nation," Gandhi said while addressing election rallies in Gaya and at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, the state capital. Pointing at the alliance between the two parties at Centre, she said the Congress-RJD tie-up would succeed just the way it had at the Centre. "Our alliance will prove to be a success and our promises will also be fulfilled in the same manner as it is being done at New Delhi," she said.

    Sonia criticized the NDA for being interested in the chair than in the development of Bihar and its people. She said that the NDA was biased during its regime at the Centre few years ago and overlooked Bihar while preparing developmental plans. Referring to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, she said the UPA government at the Centre had taken care to ensure that its benefits reached the rural poor in 10 Bihar districts where one member of each family would be given at least 100 days` employment in a year. Urging the people of the state to vote for the congress-RJD alliance to give it full majority, she said, "Several difficulties arise when the voters give an unclear mandate. It opens the doors to horse trading, which is a bad thing for a state having a great tradition of healthy politics." Assembly elections in the State will be held in four phases and the first phase of voting will take place on October 18. The remaining three phases of voting will take place on October 26, November 13 and November 19 respectively. Counting of votes in all the constituencies will be taken up on November 22, and date before which election process shall be completed will be November 23.