Guns are out for Laloo, complains a bitter Bihar CM

That trouble was brewing for Laloo became evident when the Congress, the biggest ally of the United Front (UF) as also that of the Bihar Chief Minister, broke its silence on the fodder issue, and advised him to resign in the best democratic traditions.

To make the going tougher for him, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is also the UF convenor, hinted that Laloo should quit in order “to uphold the principles and spirit of democracy” in the wake of the State Governor’s sanction to prosecute him in the fodder scam.West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu also demanded that his Bihar counterpart step down and prove his innocence before the court. “As I said earlier, Laloo Prasad should step down and hand over charge to some one else,” Basu told newsmen in Calcutta.

The banner of revolt raised by Yadav, who has already challenged Laloo’s bid to retain his hold over the party, assumes significance in the light of covert moves within the Dal to force Laloo to convene the meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in a bid to pre-empt him from gaining control over the party.

The move was discussed in a luncheon meeting organised today by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in the light of Bihar Governor A R Kidwai’s go-ahead to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute, besides Laloo, veteran Congress leader Jagannath Mishra, Union Minister Chandradeo Prasad Verma and two Ministers of the Bihar Government in the fodder scam.The meeting was attended by Yadav, Vilas Paswan, C M Ibrahim, Shrikanta Jena, former Union Minister Devendra Prasad Yadav and Rajya Sabha MP Mohd Obaidullah Azmi all known critics of Laloo.

They are said to have asked Paswan, who is also the party’s secretary-general, to find out the possibility of convening the PAC meeting ostensibly in a bid to avert the crisis facing the party.

When contacted, Paswan confirmed that he had been asked to call the PAC. “But there is no mention of such a body in the party constitution, nor is it clear whether I, as the Dal secretary-general, am empowered to convene such a meeting,” he said.

The Sharad Yadav faction apparently plans to utilise the PAC, which consists of senior leaders such as Surendra Mohan, Madhu Dandavate and Bapu Kaldate, to persuade, if not force, Laloo to resign from the Chief Minister’s post by isolating him on the issue of corruption. The issue of party leadership could also be broached in the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Yadav and Paswan called upon Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet to discuss the situation arising out of the Bihar Governor’s action. The latter, it is learnt, told the two leaders that the latest developments had dangerous portends for not just the JD, but also for the fate of the UF Government. With Laloo insisting that he would not resign from the Chief Minister’s post, Prime Minister I K Gujral has been forced to walk a tightrope. He has, so far, assiduously stayed away from the crisis. A senior leader said, “He’ll have to act against Union Minister Chandradeo Prasad Verma once the Governor’s decision is officially communicated to him.” The Prime Minister has limited options, especially when one considers reports that the dissidents may vote in favour of the no-confidence motion moved by the CPI against the Laloo Government, if the Centre fails to take any action against it till June 23.

Pro-Laloo JD youth leaders threaten stir

Bihar Yuva Janata Dal general secretary and a prominent minority leader in Jharkhand region, Shamsher Alam, today threatened to launch an agitation along with his supporters if any attempt was made to force Laloo Prasad Yadav to resign from Chief Ministership.

In a statement at Ranchi, Alam alleged that Laloo was implicated in the fodder scam on fabricated charges, which he claimed would fail to stand in the court.

He also demanded action against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if Laloo was freed from the court and charges levelled against him were found to be baseless.

Alam said Laloo was being attacked by “communal and opportunist forces”.