Cong. hints at severing ties with RJD

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, DEC. 9. Senior Congress(I) leader and chairman of the AICC(I) Policy, Planning and Coordination, Mr. Salman Khurshid, today hinted at the possibility of the party severing its ties with the ruling RJD in Bihar.

Talking to newspersons, Mr. Khurshid observed that the party's experience with coalition politics in general had been rather bitter thus far and it was no different in Bihar. He was of the view that the party's base had been affected in all those States where it had entered into a coalition.

He said that the result for the Congress(I) was not good even in Uttar Pradesh when it had supported Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav. As for Bihar, it was yet to come out of the shadows of the RJD.

Mr. Khurshid, however, added that any decision to get to the driver's seat on its own steam would have to be arrived at after a careful analysis of the situation and not on superficial grounds. He put the blame for the party's dissatisfaction with the coalition arrangement at the doorstep of the local leaders for failing to coordinate effectively and handle the coalition partner in a better way.In the opinion of Mr. Khurshid, the objective of entering into coalition with the RJD was successfully achieved, but the party had not benefited from its association with the RJD. The grassroot workers were not happy with those leaders who are now holding ministerial posts.

Mr. Khurshid said the party ministers had not been given sufficient participation in the decision making process, having been sidelined on major issues.

According to Mr. Khurshid the situation would be reviewed only after the constitution of the new state unit, which is likely to be announced in the coming days.

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