Laloo doubts Advani's aim

Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani is using the Bharat Uday Yatra as a route to project himself as the next Prime Minister, RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav alleged on Wednesday.

''Advani is befooling the BJP partners who are unaware of the reality of the yatra... Advani is trying to project himself as the next PM through this yatra which poses danger to secular and regional parties,'' Yadav told an election gathering here.

Claiming that there was every possibility of some leaders, contesting in Bihar against the RJD-Congress alliance, joining a third front in the post poll scenario, Yadav said a clear rift in the ranks of Janata Dal (U) had surfaced following the swapping of seats between George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar.

''Fernandes has taken up the role of an agent of the communal RSS...And there is every possibility of a third front emerging after the polls which may see some leaders contesting in Bihar joining it.''

Lashing out at the BJP leadership for 'unnecessarily' raking up Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, Yadav said the issue had become baseless and irrelevant. ''All the secular forces are firmly with the Congress,'' he added.

Criticising the 'feel good' slogan, Yadav ridiculed the BJP for failing to coin a slogan in Hindi despite projecting itself as champion of Swadeshi.

Taking a dig at the Arjun Munda government in the state, Yadav, who came to campaign for party nominee Manoj Kumar from Palamu seat, said the BJP led coalition in the state had left the 'system corrupt'.