Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav for the first time owned responsibility for the party's defeat in the February Bihar assembly polls.

"I confess that I was responsible and to blame for defeat of the RJD in state assembly polls," Lalu told rediff.com on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, he publicly accepted the same in a state level meeting of party workers.

Lalu said that it was he who allowed every one to apply for the party tickets and that he committed several mistakes and tolerated wrongdoings of some party men that resulted in the defeat.

"The National Democratic Alliance has not defeated me, I have been let down by my own people" said Lalu.

After admitting his mistakes, he urged the party men to work with commitment and unity to return to power in the next assembly polls by the end of 2005.

Lalu also appealed to the party to launch an agitation at district level to ensure that photo identity cards are given to voters, particularly the weaker section.

In a bid to encourage party workers, Lalu announced that candidates would be decided on the recommendation of the district units of the party.

Lalu, however, did not forget to remind his party men that they have to be alert against communal forces led by BJP and JD-U and to fight for secularism to save Bihar from them.