Date:09/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/09/stories/2003010903421100.htm

National

Samata dissidents readying for showdown

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 8. The crisis in the Samata Party continues unabated with dissidents preferring to hold their fire even as the central leadership is planning to convene a meeting of the Parliamentary party to sort out the issue.

The party president and Defence Minister, George Fernandes, who faces a near rebellion from the Bihar unit, plans to call a meeting of the Parliamentary party as the first step to resolve the problem. A dominant section owing allegiance to the senior leader and Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, is willing to part ways if no solution was found. In his effort to find a way out of the crisis, Mr. Fernandes is understood to have held discussion with the Bihar unit chief, Raghunath Jha, and the party general secretary, Shambu Shrivastwa, today.

The problem in Samata party accentuated last month when six of its 14 MPs demanded that the party replace the Mr. Jha, and threatened to resign from the party if the it was not done immediately. Carrying it forward, the six MPs referred not to renew their membership as a mark of protest.

Sources in the dissidents' camp indicated that while they were targeting Mr. Jha, the problem was deeper and the genesis of the crisis was due to `marginalising' Mr. Kumar and resentment over the manner in which Mr. Fernandes was moving closer to the BJP.

The dissidents, who belong to the pro-Nitish faction, were eager to retain the party's distinct identity, especially in Bihar — the State where the party has a major stake. Most of them preferred not to comment on the ongoing developments and are understood to be preparing to hold a meeting in Patna on January 19. Preparing for the showdown with Mr. Fernandes, the dissidents are expected to assemble there on January 10, for holding a meeting of the `rebels' in the State unit. The Railway Minister, Mr Kumar too is expected to be present at the meeting.

On the other hand, the official camp indicated that in a bid to resolve the issue Mr. Jha could step down, provided a request was made both by Mr. Fernandes and Mr. Kumar. It said at the same time, Mr. Jha was insistent that the leaders should explain as to why he could not continue for another two months, when his tenure comes to an end. The party is in the process of holding organisational elections, which would culminate by April this year.