RJD set to cash in on Laloo's surrender

By K. Balchand

PATNA, NOV. 16. While the former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, prepares to surrender before the designated CBI court in Ranchi on November 26, the focus is not on the ruling RJD or its Government, but on the BJP.

Earlier, the Opposition parties, led by the BJP and the RJD dissidents, who have since been expelled, were looking forward to Mr. Yadav's surrender and his possible imprisonment in Ranchi as part of their scheme to pull down the coalition Government led by Ms. Rabri Devi.

Now, six months later, the RJD seems to be on the offensive, trying to extract mileage at the cost of the BJP, thanks to the differences and factionalism in the party at the State level and the opportunity that has come in the form of Mr. Yadav's requisite presence in Ranchi. And the city will become Mr. Yadav's frequent destination with the trial of the fodder scam cases being shifted to Jharkhand.

The RJD today issued a ``remove Marandi, save Jharkhand'' call ahead of Mr. Yadav's journey to Ranchi on November 25, when he will hold a workers' meeting to chalk out an agitational programme.

The RJD spokesman, Mr. Shivanand Tiwari, clarified that no roadside meetings were scheduled during the 400 km. journey (from Patna to Ranchi), but that it might become inevitable if the workers stopped Mr. Yadav's cavalcade. Mr. Yadav would be undertaking his journey in one of his numerous `raths.'

The agitational programme was not related to Mr. Yadav's surrender and it would be carried out irrespective of the outcome of the bail petition before the designated court.

But before going to Ranchi, Mr. Yadav is set to give the BJP some anxious moments by trying to entice the dissatisfied elements within the party. The simmering clash of interests is being expressed overtly, mainly by the BJP MPs who are upset with the Central leadership over their non-inclusion in the Union Cabinet.

About a month ago, the film star and BJP MP, Mr. Shatrughan Sinha, had shared the dais with Mr. Yadav. Another dissatisfied MP, Mr. Madan Prasad Jaiswal, who nurses a grievance at not being accommodated in the Union Council of Ministers, is set to follow his footsteps.

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Section  : National
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