Laloos Refusal To Quit Puts Jd In A Bind

In view of the belligerent stand taken by Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, the central leadership of the Janata Dal (JD) appear to have decided to go along with him for the present, and wait for things to further concretise before taking a decision on his possible resignation.

JD leaders in the Union Capital are defending Yadav, arguing that he had just been interrogated by the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) and that no charges had been framed so far. Moreover, the charges against him were flimsy, a party leader said.

He wondered as to how a popular Chief Minister could be removed on the ground that someone involved in the fodder scam had bought an air ticket for Yadavs wife, and that the alleged kingpin of the scam was the local guardian of Yadavs nephews.

JD leaders questioned the fairness of the investigation into the scam under the leadership of the Central Bureau Investigation joint director (east) U N Biswas. It seems Biswas is biased against Yadav. The way he briefed the press about the investigation suggests that he is trying to become an investigator, prosecutor and a political leader at the same time, another party leader said.

Even though the Left parties are of the view that once Yadav is chargesheeted he should step down, they are concerned about the possible ramifications of his refusal to step down or his possible decision to go along with Congress president Sitaram Kesari. On his part, Yadav has firmly ruled out resigning as Chief Minister even if he were chargesheeted. He has said that he would not only move a court of law, but prefer to approach the 'peoples court for justice.

I will prefer my dismissal to stepping down. Why should I resign when I have been democratically elected by the people and not appointed by theCentral Bureau Investigation, he has said here.