Anti-Laloo Camp Steps Up Campaign Against Rjds Entry Into United

A day after Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad proved that he still commanded majority in the Assembly, there were indications from United Front partners that his RJD might be inducted into the United Front if he resigned as Bihar Chief Minister and appointing a successor in Patna.

With the prospects of this brightening, Laloo bashers in the United Front came up with a new demand, complicating the matter further just on the eve of Fronts standing committee today. Left party leaders and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said Laloo Prasads quitting as Bihar Chief Minister would not suffice for RJDs induction into the Front. Laloo Prasad will have to quit even as the leader of RJD if his party was to become a member of the Front.

The new offensive of Laloo bashers came in the wake of talk among Front leaders that Laloo Prasad might soon face a dismissal by Governor A R Kidwai once courts take cognizance of the CBI charges against him in the animal husbandry scam, or the investigating agency arrests him even before cognizance of the charges. In such an eventuality, the doors of the United Front might be shut on the RJD - the party Laloo Prasad formed by splitting the Janata Dal.

While non-Left UF partners said the steering committee would not be called until the RJD issue is settled in the standing committee, Left leaders insisted the steering committee would definitely meet whether the RJD issue was resolved in todays meeting or not.

The war of nerves in the UF began yesterday afternoon after it became increasingly clear that the standing committee would not be able to take a decision on RJDs inclusion in todays meeting, thereby allowing, though by default, the three RJD ministers in Prime Minister I K Gujrals cabinet to continue till the next standing committee meeting.

Interestingly, Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav appeared to have mellowed down yesterday after being away from Delhi journalists for the last two days. He was extremely cautious while commenting on Laloo Prasad and was categorical only in saying that there will be no compromise on corruption.

When asked if he would support inclusion of RJD in UF if Laloo resigned as CM, Sharad Yadav said it is the best question but a hypothetical one. But if that happened, it would open up several new ways. He was not willing to even repeat the demand of senior leaders of Janata Dal last week that Laloo Prasad should resign.

While Sharad was mellowed, another senior Dal leader, who has always blamed Sharad for not agreeing on a third candidate for JD presidentship, leading to the split in the party, was spitting fire at Yadav.

Go and ask him what has he achieved now? Now take the JD symbol and be content with that, the mass following is with Laloo Prasad, he said.