NEW DELHI: Politics makes strange bedfellows and its latest manifestation is playing out in Manipur where BJP has joined hands with RJD and CPM to oust the 10-year-old Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress government.
BJP leaders insist this is a part of a "broader alliance" of all non-Congress parties. But the prospect of RJD, whose leader Lalu Prasad remains the most rabid saffron-baiter coming together with BJP, has evoked interest in the upcoming elections. The main regional party , Manipur People's Party , had formed an alliance with RJD, NCP, JD-U and CPM called People's Democratic Alliance and was looking to have a seat-sharing deal with BJP. Senior BJP leader Prakash Javdekar described the formation as "an alliance within an alliance".
BJP leaders insist this is a part of a "broader alliance" of all non-Congress parties. But the prospect of RJD, whose leader Lalu Prasad remains the most rabid saffron-baiter coming together with BJP, has evoked interest in the upcoming elections. The main regional party , Manipur People's Party , had formed an alliance with RJD, NCP, JD-U and CPM called People's Democratic Alliance and was looking to have a seat-sharing deal with BJP. Senior BJP leader Prakash Javdekar described the formation as "an alliance within an alliance".