A strong indication in the United Front yesterday that Prime Minsiter I K Gujral would sack Union minsiter Chandradeo Prasad Verma once the CBI charged him in the animal husbandry scam gladdened the hearts of Janata Dal bigwigs here who thought this one act of Gujral would ultimately lead to a smooth succession to Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad without a split in the party.
Laloo Prasad and Verma are amogn the 56 accused who are likely to be charged by the CBI in the next few days following governor A R Kidwai giving sanction for the Charge sheet on Tuesday.
Even as the succession to Laloo Prasad became a possibility yesterday, his detractors in the party who were one in demanding the removal of Laloo, started their own little battles over who should be the successor.
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However, United Front leaders from Bihar said Laloo Prasad would still be able to influence the choice of his successor.
Bihar Assembly Speaker Dev Narayan Yadav and Minister for Sports in Laloo Prasad Cabinet Abdul Bari Siddiqui are among those whose names were being taken by those who said the next choice would have to have the support of the present incumbent.
A senior Yadav leader opposed to Prasad agreed that only a Yadav would replace Laloo Prasad but said Laloo Prasads choice would not matter much.
However there is apparantly no unanimity among the Laloo bashers on a successor. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Sharad Yadav are a known opponent of each-other and may not fall for a common choice.
Other Laloo bashers include former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and former food minister D P Yadav.
The latter has been breathing fire against Prasad ever since he was dropped from the Union government at Prasads instance.
Verma, who is a minister of State for Rural Areas and Employment in the Gujral government, has been refusing to resign following into the footsteps of his leader Laloo Prasad who has also been refusing to resign even after the CBI deciding to charge him.
Verma was a minister in Prasads Cabinet during the preriod the fodder scam robbed the State exchequer of Rs 950 crore.
Prime Minsiter Gujral is set not to defend the corrupt or interfere in any way in law taking its own course.
He is of the view that the government should not compromise on corruption irrespective of its impact on the survival of the government, a senior Front leader said.
There were a flurry of activity in the Janata Dal circles throughout yesterday. While Laloo Yadav supporters, members of Parliament, Union ministers and Dal leaders rushed to Patna, those against him held small conclaves in Delhi.
All eyes are on todays meeting of the Janata Dal legislature party called by Laloo Prasad at his residence in Patna. It is likely to give a clear idea as to how many MLAs were backing Prasad even after the gubernetorial saction for his trial. The meeting would also bare Laloo Prasads plans on how he was going to respond to the CBI chargesheet.
Sharad Yadav, who is challenging Laloo Prasad in the party presidents election yesterday suggested that his opponent should quit as cheif minister. Repeating many times over how his party had a long tradition of resigning even on small moral issues, Yadav said governors sanction for charging Laloo Prasad has changed the situation completely.
I was the only one who has been opposed to any demand for Laloo Prasads resignation before the charge sheet. But now that the chargesheet is coming, the situation is different, he said.
Prime Minsiter I K Gujral returned to Delhi yesterday afternoon after a short visit to Rajasthan.