Laloo runs into fresh trouble

While confirming that he had received the letter of Namdhari, the chief minister said it was “unfortunate”. Prasad said that he would forward the letter to Governor A R Kidwai for acceptance if Namdhari insisted on it.

The chief minister said that he would, however, hold talks with Namdhari and try to persuade him to withdraw the letter. Prasad said he had not asked any of his cabinet colleagues to resign “but I will not hesitate to accept resignations of those who prefer it.”

Asked whether Namdhari had explained any reason forcing him to quit, Prasad said “I am unable to trace it but the flutter caused by a Janata Dal MLA during the meeting of the State Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) may have compelled Namdhari for such a course of action.”

Heated arguments were reported to have taken place between Namdhari and ruling party MLA Ramdas Rai at the TAC meeting on May 20 last.

Namdhari, however, said the “disturbances” caused during the meeting had “not compelled him to quit”.

Considered a critic of the style of functioning of the chief minister, Mandhari had favoured resignation of Prasad “on moral grounds” following the CBI move to prosecute him in the Rs 950-crore fodder scam in the State.

However, Namdhari refused to elaborate when asked whether his resignation followed refusal of the chief minister to step down in the wake of the CBI seeking gubernatorial nod for the prosecution.