Lok Shakti skips JD(U) meet

Senior leader George Fernandes is said to be unhappy with the alacrity with which JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav admitted Ram Lakhan Singh into the party. He is said to differ with the impression sought to be created that Ram Lakhan Singh’s induction would bring in the votes of the Yadavs.

Fernandes kept away from the press conference which was called by Sharad Yadav to announce Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav’s admission into the party.Meanwhile, the Lok Shakti had a meeting of its office-bearers today where the dominant view was that the other twocomponents of the united party, namely the Samata Party and the Janata Dal, had played dirty with it.

Not only had these two components not consulted it at the time of the formation of the ministry, they had also kept the Lok Shakti in the dark about the nomination of office-bearers of the JD (U) parliamentary party. Fears were expressed that it would also be kept away from the exercise of naming the floor leader in the Rajya Sabha.

Hegde, who was not included in the Ministry, is understood to be using the excuse of an appointment with Vice-President Krishan Kant tomorrow to stay away from its meeting. Instead, Lok Shakti general secretary M Raghupathy and two others will represent the party at the meeting.

"This is meant to send a signal that we cannot be taken for granted," Lok Shakti sources said.

In fact, the Lok Shakti made its displeasure clear about not being consulted by either the components of the JD (U) or the Vajpayee Government, in a political resolution adopted at its meeting. It said:"To ensure enduring political credibility and stability there is need for dialogue and interaction. The failure to consult and communicate with Ramakrishna Hegde is an alarming lapse that casts serious doubts on the future functioning and sincere and genuine consensus of all its constituents. It has not enhanced the image of the new government. It has created a crisis of confidence."

The Lok Shakti will now decide whether the formal merger of the three components of the JD (U) should be gone through or not at its national executive meeting on November 12. "The opportunity for dialogue and discussion at the proposed steering committee meeting tomorrow will hopefully resolve and clarify what led to this unfortunate and wholly avoidable situation," the resolution said.

Sharad Yadav on his part made all the right noises when asked why Hegde, who was also scheduled to address today’s press conference, kept away. "Hegde is the founder-leader of our party," he said.