No differences with Sonia, says Lalu after meeting

New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and dismissed reports of differences with her.

"All talk of differences is wrong. When there has been no fight, where is the question of any rapprochement?" Lalu Prasad said to reporters after the 30-minute meeting at Sonia Gandhi's residence.

Maintaining that his ties with ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have not changed, he said: "I have deep respect for her which will always remain."

Asked if he had any regrets like those of the Samajwadi Party on supporting the Congress-led UPA government, Lalu Prasad said: "Problems are not solved by withdrawing support. My mission is not to withdraw support."

Lalu Prasad was the railways minister in the first term of the UPA Government. However, his party fought general elections without any tie-up with the Congress and fared poorly. Experts believe this cost him his post as minister which went to Trinamool Congress' Mamata Banerjee instead.