The on going dissident activities in the ruling Janata Dal in Bihar received an impetus on Monday when railways minister, Ram Bilas Paswan openly alligned himself with the rebels clamouring for a change in the state leadership. This is for the first time since the campaign against the scam-tainted Laloo Prasad Yadav that Paswan alongwith former union minister for food and civil supplies, Devendra Prasad Yadav formally acknowledged the reception accorded to them by the Laloo-baiters.
Though Paswan did not attack Laloo Prasad Yadav as was expected by the dissidents, he did conform to the statement of the Prime Minister that He (Gujral) would have resigned had he been in Laloos place.
Paswan admitted that the image of the party had been tarnished due to fracas between the two contestant for the partys top post.
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He said that the senior leaders of the party were worried about the spectre of split in the Dal owing to the tussle between the two for the top slot.
He hoped that the leaders would strive to find an amicable solution in the interest of party. Legally we can not do anything since the matter has reached the court but efforts are on to conduct a peaceful election or select the party president through consensus.
But the assent of the two contestant is a must for selection of party president through consensus, he added.
Paswan who addressed the press conference at the residence of Pashupati Kumar Paras, who tendered his resignation from Laloo cabinet in protest against the dismissal of his four cabinet colleagues, refused to comment on the functioning of the Bihar government and irregularities committed in the membership drive, selection of delegates and appointment of the working president. I was never consulted while taking these decision.
Referring to the resignation of his brother, Paswan said: It was purely his decision and I am nowhere in the picture. He is free to take his own decision.
Earlier, the overenthusiastic and boisterous supporters of the dissidents created rucous at the airport and assaulted the assistant station manager of Indian Airlines, P S Bandhopadhyay forcing the staff of the airlines to cease work.
According Bandhopadhyay, the JD workers asked him to open the VIP lounge and hearing that he could not do so since it did not come under the purview of Indian Airlines, they manhandled me. Work at the Patna airport had come to a standstill as the Indian Airlines staff demanded total security.
Meanwhile, Gautam Sagar Rana, MLC denied that the station manager was manhandled and said that infact the workers were asked to vacate the state hanger by the district police.
This has happened for the first time when the party workers who had gone to receive union minister (Ram Bilas Paswan and Chaturanan Mishra) were asked to vacate the premises.
Earlier, the rail minister flagged off the Swarna Jayanti Link express at Jayanagar in Madhubani district.