NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has
recognised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led by Lalu Prasad as a "national"
party, upgrading its position from that of a "state" party, triggering
celebrations in a political outfit for which the new status seemed unlikely till
recently.
The recognition came RJD's way on the basis of its
performance in the Nagaland assembly polls held earlier this year. The RJD, the
second largest constituent of the UPA, was so far recognised as a "state" party
in Bihar, Jharkhand and Manipur.
