Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar share a stage together during a joint public rally in Hajipur, Bihar.
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Lalu Yadav played "bhai-bhai" (brothers) today as they warmly held hands and later sipped tea on stage in Hajipur in their first appearance together at a public rally in two decades.
They defended their new bonhomie, fast tracked by a common need to prevent the BJP from extending its big win in this year's Lok Sabha elections to by-elections in Bihar later this month. "People said Nitish Kumar went for help to his big brother Lalu Yadav. Well who else will he come to?" asked Mr Yadav, 66.
Mr Kumar, 63, said he buried the hatchet with the man he has incessantly attacked for many years to take on the bigger enemy.
"Good days were promised, but where are the good days? People are still waiting. Good day's haven't come for people, but have come for some BJP members. The government will not reduce inflation, they will only save their seats," Mr Kumar said, confirming that he would address at least seven such rallies with Lalu Yadav, in their joint campaign for the by-elections to 10 assembly seats.
Under a seat sharing pact, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal - United and Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal will contest four seats each and the Congress will contest two.
They hope that their complex politics will lead to some simple arithmetic: the BJP and its allies had won 31 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in May, with a vote share of 35.8 per cent. Partners RJD-Congress and the JD(U) together had 45 per cent. Lalu and Nitish reckon that should give them an edge in the by-elections, being seen as a semi-final before next year's state elections. (
Read: In Bihar By-Elections, Nitish Teams With Lalu, BJP Seeks Pyjama)
The BJP is dismissive. "It is lust of power and the threat of defeat that has brought them together, they stand exposed," said the party's Rajiv Pratap Rudy today.
Nitish Kumar had quit as Bihar chief minister soon after results of the general elections were declared. Punished for dumping the BJP after 17 years in alliance, Mr Kumar's JD(U) could win only two seats. (
Nitish, Lalu, Congress Reach Agreement for Bihar By-Poll)
The party was also hit by desertions in the state assembly and was offered support by Lalu Yadav. (
Also read: Why Lalu Decided to Back Nitish's Candidates in Rajya Sabha Polls)
Mr Kumar and Mr Yadav were once prominent young leaders in the Janata Party before launching their own political parties. In 2005, Mr Kumar along with the BJP ousted Lalu's RJD from power in Bihar.