Simaria (Jharkhand): Addressing public meetings ahead of the February 4 by-poll in this Assembly constituency, RJD president Lalu Prasad today appealed to the electorate to shun communal forces and strengthen the hands of secular parties.

Prasad, who addressed three public meetings, said the RJD had withdrawn from the fray in favour of CPI candidate Ramchandra Ram only to keep secular parties united against the "communal" BJP and appealed to the voters to back him against the saffron party's Kumar Ujjwal Das.

Lalu also targeted the previous NDA regime, alleging it used the scrapped POTA to harass the poor under the guise of fighting naxalism. He claimed the UPA government and the state would never allow injustice to tribals. Dismissing speculation on the fate of the Madhu Koda government considering the Congress ultimatum and threat to the coalition after the Simaria by-poll, Prasad asserted that the UPA in Jharkhand would complete its term.

"Tongues are there to air statements. But nothing will happen to the Koda government ... The RJD with 24 MPs at the Centre is strong," Prasad said apparently sending a veiled warning to the coalition partners not to take RJD lightly in Jharkhand. Both the RJD and the Congress are supporting the fragile Koda government from outside.

Source : PTI