Patna, May 15 (IANS): Some "technical problems" have come in the way of the merger of the Janata Parivar parties, but the RJD and the JD-U will contest the Bihar assembly polls this year in alliance to defeat the BJP, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said on Thursday.

"I am a strong supporter of the merger of the six parties of the Janata Parivar, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal-United, but some technical problems have come in the way of their merger. It may get delayed, so the RJD and the JD-U would contest the Bihar assembly polls together in alliance," Lalu Prasad told the media after a meeting with his legislators.

He said the merger was initiated to stop the BJP, and it will be finalised in the coming months.

"A strong alliance of the RJD and the JD-U will defeat the BJP in the Bihar polls, if there is a delay in their merger," he said.

Last week, Ram Gopal Yadav, younger brother of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, said the merger of the Janata Parivar parties would not be possible before the Bihar polls.