Internal differences surface in RJD, plan stir

PATNA, DEC 25: Internal differences in the ruling RJD came to the fore on Sunday when supporters of Laloo Prasad Yadav went on a rampage p...

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PATNA, DEC 25: Internal differences in the ruling RJD came to the fore on Sunday when supporters of Laloo Prasad Yadav went on a rampage pelting stones, shoes and chairs at a seminar organised by party’s national president Ranjan Prasad Yadav, being projected as a leader by the dissidents to replace Rabri Devi as Chief Minister.

Trouble began as soon as Rajya Sabha member Nagmani said that the abhiyan (campaign) of Ranjan Yadav would not be stopped. Laloo’s supporters interpreted it as a move to instal Ranjan in place of Rabri.

Laloo’s loyalists snatched the microphone, threw chairs and stones to disturbing the seminar organised by Ranjan at Jainagar for discussing measures for ensuring all-round growth of Bihar.

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The ruckus could be controlled after Ranjan announced that there were no differences between him and Laloo and that leadership would not be changed.

"We have assembled here for discussion on a permanent solution to flood and drought in North and central Bihar…and there is no politics involved here", he said.

Political observers believe that the action of Laloo’s supporters has exposed the differences in the ruling party with party workers appearing to have divided into two–one in favour of Laloo and another in favour of Ranjan.

A section of RJD leaders, including former Bihar Minister MLA Ramdas Rai and Minister for building Taslimuddin have demanded removal of Rabri Devi from Chief ministership and installation of Ranjan in her place.

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Meanwhile, the announcement by RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav, to organise a rally in Bihar on March 4 and stage a dharna at the Boat Club in New Delhi on January 30 has surprised political circles.

Though Laloo launched a campaign on Saturday from Bhitiharwa Ashram in West Champaran, the detailed agitational programme chalked out amidst the high-pitch dissident campaign within RJD has put a question mark on its professed purpose.

Laloo says his party will take recourse to agitational programme against alleged apathy of the centre towards the problems facing farmers in Bihar.

Laloo has already dismissed the dissidents’ claim for Rabri’s removal saying he has faced such a thing in the past also. "There is no strength in such a demand," he adds.