Paswan triggers new power struggle in Bihar

By K. Balchand

PATNA, NOV. 27. The creation of a separate Jharkhand State signalling the bifurcation of Bihar has already had its own political impact in the residual Gangetic plains with splits, dissensions and new strategies for survival and consolidations becoming the order of the day.

The first major fallout of the separation of the plateau region has formalised the impending split in the Janata Dal(U). The Telecommunications Minister, Mr. Ram Bilas Paswan, had indeed been waiting for the division of the State to float his own party following differences with the Union Civil Aviation Minister and JD(U) president, Mr. Sharad Yadav.

Lacking necessary support in the legislative wing of the party in united Bihar, Mr. Paswan bade his time till the formation of the new State which automatically reduced the strength of the JDLP in Bihar sufficiently for him to go ahead with his plan to herd his flock to new pastures.

Mr. Paswan enjoys the support of six out of the 18 MLAs who constitute the JDLP in Bihar with three other MLAs going over to Jharkhand State to form a separate group. By floating the Jan Shakti, Mr. Paswan has trigerred a new power struggle among the constituents of the NDA in Bihar.

Mr. Paswan hails from Bihar and so do his two other rivals, Mr. Sharad Yadav and the Samata Party leader and Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar. If three of the allies are fighting among themselves can the BJP remain untouched?

The intensity of the battle could well be confined to Bihar for the time being as Mr. Paswan has no MLAs in Jharkhand with the three-member JD(U) reposing faith in the leadership of Mr. Yadav. But that is just for the record as the Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly, Mr. Inder Singh Namdhari, had explicitly indicated his individuality by staying away from Even Mr. Yadav's meeting in Patna last month with his supporter who is now a Minister in the BJP-led government there.

The BJP is eagerly watching this clash of egos among leaders of the erstwhile Janata Parivar desperately hoping that it would help retain its supremacy among the anti-Laloo voters, but its limitations are quite obvious. Mr. Paswan's clash with his two Cabinet colleagues would not only tell on the Union Government but the alliance in Bihar.

The differences cropped up over sharing the seats for the Bihar Assembly early this year. The issue of Chief Ministership was no less bitter. A cohesive functioning of the three leaders is perceived as an impossible proposition, at least in the near future.

The more each tries to expand his base the more the gap between them will widen. The fight for each inch is already on and it might not be too long before someone treads on the other's toes. That Mr. Pawan is forcing the issue was clear from the fact that Mr. Kumar held a rally here to display his strength.

On the other hand, Mr. Sharad Yadav seems no better off as his party here is riven with infighting denying him of any opportunity to drive him his numerical advantage over Mr. Paswan. It is the same with the Samata Party. Political observers are keenly watching whether Mr. Yadav and Mr. Kumar join hands to jointly ward off the threat that Mr. Paswan intends to pose.

Should that come about it would threaten the BJP's position as the principal opposition party in the State. The BJP performance in the plains of Bihar in the Assembly elections was far from encouraging, marginally proving its position to 35 legislators.The BJP is aware that it would not be able to repeat the performance again, having no solid base after the creation of Jharkhand State and that the anti-Laloo wave was at its peak during the Assembly elections when they failed to unseat the RJD government.The BJP, the Leader of Opposition, Mr. S. K. Modi, in particular, is desperately trying to hold on to what every little they have in Bihar by seeking to identify themselves with the cause of their supporters.

Conscious of his greater advantage in the changed situation, the RJD supremo, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, has initiated his own moves not only to consolidate his position but win over those who had either deserted him or were sitting on the fence by pushing the NDA to the wall.

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