Laloo taps secular minds, meets Mayawati, Pawar

Laloo8217;s mission was to explore the possibilities of a Front to defeat the NDA, the reasons for their hesitation and to make them feel at ease about the alliance. While Laloo was unavailable for comment, the RJD8217;s leader in Rajya Sabha and Laloo8217;s confidant, businessman Prem Gupta, revealed: 8216;8216;Lalooji has been in touch with several leaders of like-minded parties ever since it became certain elections were going to be held in the next four months. He has decided to be pro-active to create this Front as quickly as possible. It is imperative to defeat the communal forces.8217;8217;

Neither Mayawati nor Pawar committed themselves to any decision but promised to discuss the issue at their respective party national executive meetings. Both admitted to certain reservations in joining the Congress 8212; the NCP is peeved that the Congress broke its party in Manipur and the BSP feels it does not gain by aligning with the party.