Bjp Bihar Unit Gears Up For A Possible Jd Split

The Bihar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing itself to derive maximum mileage out of the turmoil in the ruling Janata Dal, and the possibility of Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav resigning in the event of his being chargesheeted in the multi-crore fodder scam.

State party chief Ashwini Kumar yesterday said there would be a significant realignment of forces in the state after a split in Janata Dal. He did not rule out the possibility of former BJP stalwart Inder Singh Namdhari returning to the BJP fold. Namdhari had broken away from the BJP and joined Yadavs government. By resigning from the cabinet now, Namdhari precipitated the crisis for Yadav, Kumar pointed out.

Kumar said a split in the Janata Dal was a certainty given the high pitch of the contest for the post of party president.

However, he said BJP would want the JD to continue in the government till an early assembly poll is announced.

The realignment of forces would be for the next elections, he emphasised, claiming that the BJP-Samata Party alliance in Bihar would not be affected.

The party has already called for a rail roko agitation in the state on June 17, if Yadav is not chargesheeted by then. The party has also decided to organise a Dalit youth convention at Patna on June 14 to be inaugurated by former BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi.

Kumar said Bihar governor A R Kidwai had no business to delay the decision whether or not to grant sanction to CBI to chargesheet Yadav in the scam. A governor is not a judge.

He merely has to study whether there is a prima facie case.