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Despite Nitish Kumar's passionate appeals for support, his arch rival and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad does not seem to be in hurry to bail the Janata Dal (United) out of its troubles.
Prasad has sought time to discuss the issue with his party legislators and well-wishers. "Nitish Kumar had telephoned me yesterday to seek support for the Rajya Sabha polls. I'll seek the opinion of RJD legislators and well-wishers over the issue and then take a decision," Prasad said.
JD (U) has fielded two candidates - Ghulam Rasool Baliyawi and diplomat-turned-politician Pawan Kumar Varma - for the RS polls on two seats. Meanwhile its dissident MLAs have put up Sabir Ali and real estate baron Anil Sharma as their candidates against the official ones.
The RJD MLAs held crucial votes in the by-polls, which can enable the JD (U) to sail through. Kumar had appealed to RJD, Congress and CPI to extend their support in the polls. "This is a political circumstance as now we have to fight a common enemy. BJP wants to thrust an early election in Bihar. Therefore, we all have to work together to stop BJP's game plans," he said on Saturday in a press conference. In a House of 243, with an effective strength of 232 because of 11 vacancies, the ruling party needs 51 per cent votes of MLAs for victory of its candidates. JD (U) has 116 MLAs, BJP 84, RJD 21, Congress 4, CPI 1, independents 5. With a large number of JD (U) legislators turning rebels and supporting Independents along with BJP, the vote of 21 RJD MLAs holds the key to the result in the by-poll.
RJD had earlier supported the JD (U) government in the state on the confidence motion in state assembly. However, after the vote Lalu had told that this was a one-off case and it would continue to oppose the JD (U) government. Later, two of three rebel RJD MLAs were made ministers in the Manjhi government, which apparently angered Prasad.
Prasad has also pointed out that all was not well in Kumar's party. "JD (U) MLAs have set their own house on fire and Nitish Kumar is now looking for fire brigade. What else could be said about the situation," Prasad remarked about the rebellion in the JD (U) rank.
