New Delhi:
Riding on his party's big win in the Bihar by-polls, RJD chief Lalu Prasad met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday to discuss a secular alliance for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand.
"I have respect for Sonia Gandhi, the world may leave her but I will never desert her," he said after meeting the Congress president.
Lalu also said it was important to have a secular alliance ahead of the polls.
After the RJD, LJP and Congress bagged 11 of the 18 seats in the Bihar Assembly by-elections, Lalu Yadav returned to a hero's welcome in Patna. He was received by supporters beating drums and greeted with garlands, slogans, even elephants.
After the RJD alliance's poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections, the recent by-poll victory has clearly come as a shot in the arm for the RJD chief who said his alliance was battle ready.
"We are ready for the final match and are waiting in our jerseys," Lalu said.
RJD, LJP and Congress bagged 11 of the 18 seats in the just concluded Bihar Assembly by-elections, giving a jolt to the JD(U)-led NDA government in the state.
In the last Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand, Congress had entered into an alliance with the JMM, dumping the RJD.
(With PTI inputs)