Rabri plans mass movement

However, though the legislators adopted a militant tone — announcing plans to expose everyone “responsible” for party chief Laloo’s incarceration, including the judiciary — doubts are growing within the RJD over whether an agitation is the right approach to follow.

However, others in the party feel that Rabri, new to politics and the post, may be taking on too much. Many express the fear that if she gets busy with the planned movement, the administration in the State will suffer, giving fresh ammunition to the Opposition.

Others feel that this will further strengthen the hands of senior leaders like Raghunath Jha, Jagdanand Singh and Rabri Devi’s brothers, on whom the CM is entirely dependent for running the administration. They may even be tempted to destabilise the government, allege some RJD leaders.

Partymen are also sceptical about the kind of support an RJD agitation minus Laloo will generate, prompting some to suggest that any movement of the kind be put off till he is released. For now, the scheduled date for that is August 13.

These leaders fear that in case the movement is launched tomorrow and fails to generate a response, the damage to the RJD would be permanent. The period till Laloo’s release, they assert, should be used by Rabri Devi to consolidate her position and tighten her grip on the administration.

However, sources say, the Chief Minister is against any such proposal. While addressing the RJDLP, she reportedly said that any dilly-dallying in launching the movement would send a wrong message to the masses.

The proponents of this line also believe that any delay by the party would fritter away the support it currently seems to have among the public.