Patna: Defence Minister and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener George Fernandes on October 7 emphasised the need for contesting the ensuing Assembly elections in five states collectively.

"I personally favour a collective fight against the opponents in the Assembly elections," Fernandes told reporters on his arrival in Patna at the airport.

No formal talks, however, had taken place with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in this regard, said Fernandes who came to Patna along with Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sharad Yadav to participate in a development programme.

He said, "If the BJP decides to contest the upcoming Assembly elections on its own, the other constituents of the NDA will be free to put up their candidates in the states where they feel that they are on a strong footing."

Jana Dal-United (JD-U) president Sharad Yadav also corroborated Fernandes' views and said NDA should contest the Assembly elections in five states unitedly.

The BJP being the bigger partner of the NDA should take the initiative to contest the elections collectively, Yadav said, adding if the move failed his party would contest majority of the seats in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as the party had a strong base in those two states.

Yadav assured that the farmers of Bihar would be benefited as the Centre had decided to buy more food grains through its purchase centres. The minimum support price would be at par with other states, he added.

PTI