Ranjan waiting for the right moment to remove Rabri

More than the Opposition’s prodding, it was pressure from within the RJD camp to pull down the government that inspired Ranjan to rush to Delhi a week back for mobilising support. Though Union Ministers Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav and Paswan have assured Ranjan of their backing, sources close to him confide that he wanted total and unconditional support from these leaders. From the looks of it, initial apprehension over the actual number of the dissident legislators is no more there. Now Ranjan is waiting for the right opportunity.

Earlier, the Opposition leaders were waiting for legal action against Laloo Prasad in the fodder scam and disproportionate assets cases. But they have become circumspect following the recent move to retire CBI Additional Director U.N. Biswas. Fearing that Laloo may wriggle out of the crisis if allowed to continue in power, now the Opposition wants to hurry their move.

But the state BJP leadership is not very sure about the chances of Ranjan Yadav. Even Opposition leader Sushil Mody is keeping his fingers crossed. “The situation is still fluid. Every thing depends on the nature of the support Ranjan gets from the RJD legislators. But I must make it clear that BJP is not involved in the game,” he told The Indian Express.

However, the BJP will extend outside support to the move if Ranjan manages at least 40 odd MLAs. The NDA commands a total strength of 82 in the house of 243 members. The RJD’s effective strength is 115. The Ranjan camp is also expecting support from Sadhu Yadav who is reportedly not happy with his brother-in-law. But most political observers feel that Sadhu will not eventually go against his sister.

Meanwhile, Laloo Yadav called on dissident minister Taslimuddin but, sources claim, failed to dissuade him. Ranjan loyalists have been describing this as a sign of Laloo’s weakening. “A strong Laloo would never bother to invite Taslimuddin,” they pointed out.