Enthusiastic over the success of the grand alliance in the recently held bypolls in Bihar, the JD(U) now wants ally RJD to join the Jeetan Ram Manjhi government in the state. While Lalu Prasad’s RJD is keen to join the government, the Congress, on the other hand, seems to be sharply divided over the JD(U)’s overtures. The Manjhi government, which currently has 30 ministers, including the Chief Minister, can induct six more ministers as per the 91st Constitutional amendment that has limited the strength of council of minister to 15 per cent of the members of state legislature. Key Lalu Prasad aide, Bhola Yadav, who recently got support of the JD(U) for the post of MLC, is the front-runner for ministerial position along with senior party leaders Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Abdul Gafur and Surendra Yadav. The RJD has 24 MLAs. “Now that our alliance has clicked, there is no harm in further cementing the tie and give a good message to the people by being part of the government. But the final decision will be taken by RJD president Lalu Prasad,” said RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Kumar Tiwari. From the Congress side, former Assembly speaker Sadanand Singh is being tipped as the party’s choice for the ministerial position. However, state Congress president Ashok Choudhary denied the possibility of his party joining the government, saying any such move would “lose party’s bargaining power in the seat-sharing arrangement” for the next year’s Assembly elections. “There is no such brief from the party high command to join the Manjhi government. Some senior party leaders may be keen to join the government, but it may not be in the party’s interest because the top priority now is to energise the party cadre,” Choudhary told The Indian Express. The Congress has five MLAs. Congress media panelist Prem Chandra Mishra also echoed Choudhary’s viewpoint. “The party should focus on contesting at least 80 seats (two each in a Parliamentary seat) to revive the party. But some leaders having access to the party high command may depict dismal chances for the party in the coming Assembly polls and are desperate to join the government. Joining Manjhi government will not be a politically sagacious move,” Mishra said.
