Saturday, January 8 2005 18:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Angered by the Congress-JMM (Jharkand Mukti Morcha) tie-up in Jharkhand, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) Chief Laloo Prasad today (Jan 8, 2005) bluntly told Congress that it was free to go on its own in the Assembly polls next month in Bihar but kept his options open.

Prasad told reporters that the Congress-JMM move has sent "bad signals" about the health of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) coalition at the Centre.

He said the Congress decision in Jharkhand was in "bad taste" and the RJD along with Left parties and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) would protest to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi as it was made "without taking us into confidence."

The RJD Chief, however, took pains to emphasise that Congress President Sonia Gandhi was not involved in the move and she had been "misled".

"I do not want to embarrass her (Gandhi). She would not be a part to it and she must have been misled," Prasad said.

The attack was obvious on senior Congress leaders Arjun Singh and M L Fotedar, who were negotiating with party's allies including RJD on the seat sharing in Bihar and Jharkhand.

In a veiled attack on the two Congress leaders, he said whoever had been instrumental in the Congress-JMM tie-up in Jharkhand had helped communal forces.

"Those who try to weaken UPA, we will teach them a lesson," he remarked.