Congress divided,RJD uncertain

Choice between Lalu and Nitish

Its gestures to the JD(U) and Lalus conviction notwithstanding,the Congress remains divided over the choice of its ally in Bihar. One camp still favours a Congress-RJD-LJP combination for Muslim,Yadav and Paswan votes. If we three stitch an alliance,almost 80 per cent of the Muslims will come with us. The BJP will be left with the upper class votes while Nitish Kumar will have only 20 per cent Muslim votes and the rest of the backward votes, a senior leader said.

Rahul Gandhi,however,is said to be reluctant to ally with tainted Lalu and making overtures to Nitish Kumar. While 90 per cent of Congress leaders in Bihar favour an alliance with Lalu,some in Delhi are not keen, a leader said. For instance,Beni Prasad Verma indicated an alliance with JD(U) was likely.

Those who favour a tie-up with Nitish cite Rahuls public outburst over the ordinance on lawmakers. Those who favour one with Lalu argue political alliances are between parties,not individuals. A third section argues for going it alone once again.

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Sources say Lalu still enjoys the goodwill of Sonia Gandhi; he was the first one to come to her defence when she was under attack for her foreign origin in the late 1990s. We are sorry Lalu has been convicted. He has become victim of a conspiracy and I am convinced he will prove his innocence. He has been an old and trustworthy ally of Congress, Digvijaya Singh said.

The partys communication department chief,Ajay Maken,refused to predict an alliance. There should not be political reactions to a judicial process, he said. AICC spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said the A K Antony committee for alliances will take the final call.