According to a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, Lalu Prasad, currently admitted to the Ranchi Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), proved a boon for the Grand Alliance in the state, where it is currently leading in over 45 out of the 81 seats.
Ahead of the assembly polls, when the Congress, the RJD and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) were in talks to finalise seat-sharing in the mineral-rich eastern state, the RJD chief, who on a number of occasions has been kingmaker in Bihar and at the Centre, convinced his son and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to accept the formula.
A RJD leader, who did not wish to be named, said Tejashwi Yadav wanted to contest in more seats of his choice.
"Following his demands, Tejashwi also did not participate in a joint press conference in Ranchi despite being present in the state capital," the party leader said, adding that after the RJD leader's absence, questions were being raised on the future of Grand Alliance in the state.
"However, Laluji, who was then admitted in RIMS, then convinced Tajaswi to hold talks with (JMM chief) Hemant Soren and the Congress leaders.
"Laluji knew that if Tejashwi remained adamant on his demands, then the opposition will break ahead of the assembly polls and will pave the way for the BJP to win easily," the RJD leader said.
Speaking to over phone, senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said: "It was the experience of Laluji that saved the alliance in the state ahead of the polls. And Laluji's experience in Jharkhand also helped the Grand Alliance to defeat the arrogant BJP in Jharkhand."
He said that Lalu Prasad's intervention at "perfect time" helped to bring the anti-BJP parties together in the state as he convinced Tejashwi Yadav to agree to the seven seats allotted to the RJD.
The JMM and Congress contested on 43 and 31 seats, respectively.
Jharkhand voted in five phases from November 30 to December 20 and the results are being counted on Monday.
(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@.in)
( With inputs from IANS )