PATNA, Oct 22: Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday met RJD president Lalu Prasad, apparently with the mandate to defuse tensions with the ally, which has plunged the INDIA bloc into turmoil in poll-bound Bihar.

Emerging after the meeting, Gehlot said winning Bihar was “extremely important” for the opposition alliance, after having been drubbed in a crucial state like Maharashtra, but evaded a direct reply when asked whether the Congress was ready to declare the RJD supremo’s son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate.

“Why do you want me to make such an announcement?” snapped the former Rajasthan CM when journalists asked him about the Congress’ stand on Yadav, who had recently urged the people to make Rahul Gandhi “the next prime minister”.

Geh

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