Cracks appear in RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, PCC chief takes pot shots at Rabri govt

This is the first time that a BPCC chief has gone on record with his dissatisfaction with the Rabri ministry, possibly at the high command’s behest. Previous chiefs were rather cautious in their observations. Ahmed even claimed that the Congress is the only party which can dethrone the RJD in the state.

Stung by Ahmed’s remark, Laloo apparently summoned senior RJD leaders to issue a word of caution. RJD sources here said that acting at Laloo’s behest,state RJD chief Pitambar Paswan and general secretary Ram Kripal Yadav cautioned Ahmed against pursuing a line of confrontation with the RJD and desist from issuing such statements. “There’s a chance that the Congress will be uprooted by a storm,” they reportedly told Ahmed.

They express surprise over the Congress’ sudden turn around and are busy trying to establish the genesis of the Congress’ present stand. RJD sources strongly feel that the Congress high command is trying to distance itself from the RJD after Jharkhand’s creation. Senior RJD leaders view Ahmed’s remarks seriously in the light of similar observations by AICC observer Salman Khurshid recently.

Khurshid, who was on a “taking stock” to the state a fortnight ago, had also severly criticised the Rabri government, describing it as a “defunct” one. They feel that the Congress high command’s promptings were behind the state Congress’s present stand. The Congress high command, they say, is no more in a mood to go along with the RJD.

Incidentally, a major chunk of the Congress leadership was opposed to an alliance with the RJD and has in the past voiced its reservations on the issue too. But each time, the high command would snub them. Ahmed’s remarks have, therefore, come to acquire serious connotations in political circles here.

Sources in the Congress allege that Laloo is trying to marginalise the Congress by winning over independent and JD(U) legislators after its split recently. Since most of the JD(U) legilators are Yadavs, the task might prove a cake walk for Laloo, the Congress fears. Once Laloo succeeds he will cease to rely on the Congress for political survival, they say.

Congress leaders feel that before Laloo starts his mission, the party should be ready to go it alone in the battle. Insiders even maintain that the Congress leadership is not happy with the performance of its ministers in the Rabri government. The leadership feels they are simply looking after their own interest, they say.

All these, Congressmen say, has forced the high command’s hand, forcing it to take the line that it is interested in coming out of the alliance with the RJD and is not chary of agitating against the “misrule” of the RJD government.