Emboldened by the Delhi High Court restraining Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad from interfering in the organisational elections, Dal's returning officer P K Samantray yesterday asked Prasad not to exercise any power in connection with the June 10 election. Prasad had threatened to take action against Samantray.
Laloo Prasad, who, according to one of his associates, faced a situation of make up or break off, shut himself off from journalists and remained closeted with his supporters on Sunday, chalking out the next course of action.
Replying to Prasad's show cause notice, Samantray said, since you yourself is a candidate for the president's post, you are not supposed to exercise any power against the returning officers....Moreover, it is also very clear from your conduct that you are biased against me and as such you cannot be the judge.
A source close to Laloo Prasad said that events were forcing the Bihar Chief Minister to float a regional party. He however left some room for reconciliation and said senior leaders like Madhu Dandavate and Bapu Kaldate had not given up their efforts. The source said Laloo Prasad's earlier plan was to take control of the party, its name and symbol, forcing those opposed to him to quit. The High Court's restraint has stopped Prasad from moving in this direction. Now Prasad has to chose between floating a regional party or give in to Sharad Yadav. Since neither Prasad nor Yadav are likely to withdraw in favour of the other, the chances of a reconciliation seemed remote.
Prasad suffered a major setback when railway minister Ramvilas Paswan yesterday came out openly against him, demanding that he should resign as Chief Minister following corruption charges on him.
Talking to journalists at Chennai airport, Paswan said corruption was an issue that affected the image of any party and therefore, people like the Bihar Chief Minister, against whom charges of corruption had been leveled in the multi-crore fodder scam, should quit office.
Breaking his silence over the bitter fight between Prasad and Sharad Yadav over party presidentship, Paswan said it was unfortunate that unpleasant events were taking place over this issue. Once you lose majority or faith, you should resign, he said.
Asked about the turmoil in the party which had surfaced over the issue of who would become its president, Paswan said whatever was happening was not in good taste. The party was like a family and things should have been sorted out without problems.
Responding to a question relating to the tussle between the party's returning officer and Laloo Prasad, Paswan said once problems had surfaced, the returning officer's decision to not hold elections in Patna should be accepted.
Samantray, in his wisdom to enable conduct of free and fair polls, thought it would be better to hold elections in each state or at the national capital. Therefore, his feelings should be respected, he said.
Asked why the Janata Dal, which was a national party, had two candidates from Bihar contesting for the president's post, Paswan said he had tried his level best to get Prime minister I K Gujral or former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda to contest for the post, but it had not worked out.
Asked whether the inner party tussle would have repercussions on the United Front government, he said he did not think so. He said the fight between Sharad Yadav and Laloo Prasad would not spilt his party. I don't think the issue will split the party, as it is a direct fight between these two only, he added.
