New Delhi, Sept. 30: The Congress today reacted with caution to Lalu Prasad’s conviction, taking care not to reveal its mind on the future of its Bihar alliance or even showing sympathy for the leader who was once Sonia Gandhi’s most vocal supporter.

“There should not be political reactions on a judicial process,” party communications department chief Ajay Maken said.

Asked about the party’s future relationship with Lalu’s RJD, Maken said: “It is too early to say what impact it will have on the alliance in Bihar and Jharkhand.”

Dikshit said the A.K. Antony sub-committee on elections was dealing with the issue of alliances and it was too early to comment on what the decision would be.

A senior leader told The Telegraph the final decision would depend on factors such as who Lalu Prasad chooses to project as leader in his absence, the RJD’s ability to retain LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan as an ally and the attitude of chief minister Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U) government in Bihar.

Congress sources said it would be naïve to write off Lalu Prasad at this stage, though his exit from the electoral scene would be a setback for secular forces, as he was still the most potent force to stop Narendra Modi’s rise in Bihar.