Patna, Aug 16 (IANS): The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is set to project Lalu Prasad as its chief ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls, party sources said Monday.

A senior RJD leader told IANS here that pressure is increasing within the party to project Lalu Prasad as its nominee for the top post.

"Party workers and leaders have made up their mind to project Laluji as the chief ministerial candidate after message was out that Rabri Devi is not in the race this time," the RJD leader said, demanding anonymity.

The RJD ruled Bihar for three terms from 1990 to 2005, with Lalu Prasad at the helm till 1997 and then his wife Rabri Devi as the chief minister till 2005. Lalu Prasad had to step down following corruption charges in the multi-crore rupees fodder scam.

After her husband's resignation, Rabri Devi was forced to assume the office, becoming the first woman chief minister of the state.

According to RJD leaders, Rabri Devi is fed up with politics and is no longer keen to take on any big responsibility.

"The party leaders strongly feel that Lalu should project himself as the chief ministerial candidate to give new twist to political battle ahead," another RJD leader said.

RJD state president Abdul Bari Siddiqui was reluctant to comment on the issue, but said Lalu Prasad is the party's best bet to take on ruling Janata Dal-United led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"Lalu Prasad is not only champion of social justice and communal harmony, he has proved his development vision as the union railway minister," Siddiqui said.

Lalu Prasad is currently a member of the Lok Sabha Saran.

RJD sources said the party has finalised its seat sharing deal with its partner Lok Janshakti Party led by former union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. The state is slated to go to polls in October-November this year.