APRIL 3: The Congress suffered a major loss of face today when Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav violated his agreement with the Congress high command and denied prime portfolios to the Congress ministers.Providing important portfolios to Congress ministers was a pre-condition for the support of the Congress to the RJD government. Even during his recent two-day visit to Delhi, Laloo agreed to accommodate the claims of the Congress legislators and was also agreeable to go for the induction of a technocrat as desired by the Congress high command. But today, Home, Finance and Agriculture went to the RJD.RJD sources maintain that by keeping the Finance ministry with the chief minister, Laloo has given the indication that he was not averse to bringing in a technocrat as the Finance minister in future.But the rebuff was evident as Laoo denied Congress legislators their share and refused to listen to their pleas. Interestingly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Chandra Purve announced the list of the portfolios in Laloo's absence. Prominent Congress leader and minister Furkan Ansari was so peeved that he said he would raise the issue before the high command and apprise the AICC in-charge of Bihar, Mohsina Kidwai. ``This is not fair. Laloo Prasad should have honoured his promises,'' he complained.The Congress legislators were further irritated by the bifurcation of portfolios - Laloo's method of accommodating all aspirants. Sources in the Congress say that the MLAs have faxed a letter to the high command and add that some of them will soon visit Delhi.Meanwhile, anger is brewing among the legislators hailing from the tribal belt as they feel cheated by Laloo. In fact, two senior Congress leaders - Pradeep Balmuchu and Jalal Ansari - have refused to be sworn in as they were denied Cabinet berths.
