Lalu can't be RJD chief, says rebel legislator

Samrat Choudhary, an RJD legislator who tried to defect, Friday challenged RJD chief Lalu Prasad, saying he cannot be the party president as per the constitution of the party as he was convicted in the multi-crore fodder scam.

"Lalu Prasad cannot be the RJD chief because the constitution of the party has made it clear that any convicted person cannot become the party president," Choudhary told mediapersons here.

"I will approach the election commission and seek its intervention to cancel the nomination papers of the RJD candidates in view of the fact that the symbol of the party was distributed with the signature of a convicted Lalu Prasad," Choudhary said.

However, Lalu Prasad said that Choudhary has betrayed the RJD and is one of the defector legislators.

"He has gone mad," he said.

Choudhary was chief whip of the RJD in the assembly before he revolted in February when he handed over a letter with the signatures of 13 legislators stating they were quitting the RJD to the Bihar assembly speaker and requested to be recognised as a separate group.

The speaker recognised them as a separate group, creating a controversy following which Lalu alleged that he acted in violation of the anti-defection law.

Nine of the 13 legislators later returned to Lalu's fold.