Lalu Prasad Yadav in prison,disquiet in RJD over leadership

A day after Rabri,a former CM,said the “mother and so-ns” can take care of the party,senior leader and Vaishali MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh,taken as “first among equals” in second-rung of RJD leadership,said in Ranchi “eve-ry worker in RJD is a king”.

Law catches up with Lalu,faces at least 3 years in jail

In an indirect reference to Rabri’s comments,Singh said: “Jisko jo ruch raha hai,keh raha hai (one is saying whatever one likes).” Lalu’s eldest son Tej Pratap sought to seal the debate on leadership crisis,saying,“My mother had been CM for eight years. If she wishes,she can guide the party taking along senior leaders.”

Fodder scam: Timeline

Rabri has called an emergency meeting of party leaders at her residence on October 6. Confirming this,RS MP and close Lalu aide Ramkripal Yadav told The Indian Express: “Laluji is our leader for life. Rabriji will preside over the pa-rty meet soon. Besides party’s upcoming programmes,we will discuss ways to play up the conspiracy stories behind the RJD chief’s conviction.”

The others convicted,active,faded or retired

Rabri said they are waiting for November 22 to “see how fair the CBI was” when the investigation agency would have to file a counter-affidavit in the Jharkhand HC in response to a writ petition seeking to make Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari accused in the Rs 950 crore fodder scam.

Ramkripal Yadav said: “There is a provision for bail. Laluji is not going to remain in jail. Rabriji is very much there to guide the party. All talk of succession or making collegiums of senior leaders is bogus. Our voters have become even more aggressive and regroup in face of our leader’s conviction.”

Another leader said a lot would depend on the quantum of punishment given to Lalu and chances of him getting bail before the 2014 polls. “Leadership crisis can emerge only in case of Laluji’s prolonged incarceration. It is wait-and-watch game. Till then,the party seniors will have to reconcile to the leadership of care-taker Rabri Devi,” said the leader.