Ahmed works on Paswan to defuse tension

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday spoke to Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan in an attempt to defuse the tension between the latter and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav over corruption charges. The success of his efforts is, however, doubtful because the rivalry is bound to escalate in the run-up to the Assembly polls in Bihar.

There were also reports of PM Manmohan Singh summoning the two ministers this evening, but PMO sources denied any such initiative. They said the PM may have taken up the issue with them at the end of the Cabinet meeting. There were reports of Paswan leaving the meeting early, fuelling speculation that he had left in a huff. However, sources in the LJP said Paswan left early to attend a Ministry meeting.