Bihar leaders want their own advisers

After failing to form a government in Bihar, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) members are now trying to influence the appointment of advisers to Bihar Governor Buta Singh.

Union Minister for Steel Ramvilas Paswan today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

His reason for the two meetings: to "thank the home minister and the Prime Minister for imposing the central rule and to request them that impartial advisers be appointed to the Bihar governor."

In plainspeak, this means Paswan made sure that the Centre understood that it would be well advised to stay away from bureaucrats who were close to the Lalu-Rabri regime.

Since yesterday, names of various bureaucrats, who are supposed to be close to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad have been doing rounds for the post of adviser. Included in this list is the name of Arun Pathak, PP Shrivastav and BS Dubey, all former Bihar chief secretaries.

Prasad on his part rubbished the reports that he was trying to get "friendly advisers" appointed. "This is rubbish. I met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi yesterday not to lobby for jobs but to make a last attempt to save Bihar from President's rule," he said in Patna today.

The Congress on its part is divided over the adviser issue. While one faction of the party, eager to reclaim lost ground in the state, wants neutral advisers, so that the party can take credit for any good work done during President's rule, the other section has opposite views.

"The Congress has already harmed Prasad and relations between the two parties are suffering. As an ally, Prasad is too important to be repeatedly slighted," said a senior Congress office-bearer.

"Prasad has assured us that he is not likely to rock the central government. But if he is repeatedly insulted and undermined like this, he may change his mind. Whatever said and done, he is still a force to reckon with," said a Congress leader.

Meanwhile, Buta Singh is likely to order a review of all those orders of the Rabri Devi government, which have not been implemented so far even as senior officials are busy giving final touches to state Budget for 2005-06 to be placed in Parliament for approval following imposition of President's rule.

Official sources said the governor, who would formally enter the office of the chief minister at the Old Secretariat tomorrow, was likely to review the orders of the erstwhile Rabri Devi ministry.

Meanwhile, the Bihar governor performed a prayer ceremony in a Patna temple today, before beginning his "rule" in the state, with the situation being what it is, he may need the prayers and more to walk this tightrope.