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With Lalu Prasad convicted in the multi-crore fodder scam case, RJD today put up a brave front saying his wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi is "still there to guide us".
"Rabri Devi is our leader. She is still there to guide us," party Secretary General Ramkripal Yadav told PTI.
In the past also, the party had faced such a difficult situation but had come out with "double its strength", Yadav, a close confidant of Lalu Prasad and a Rajya Sabha member, said.
Asked about the role his son Tejaswi Yadav will play, he said the party would decide the future role of leaders.
Meanwhile, sources at Rabri Devi's official residence at 10 Circular Road said she was inside the house but not talking to the media.
After repeated telephone calls, a small time party worker answered the telephone at the RJD state headquarters. He said all the leaders had gone to Ranchi in connection with the CBI court judgement.
A few RJD workers present at the office said it was a bad day for the party.
"Even after pronouncing him guilty, had the court not sent him to jail there could have been some solace for us but unfortunately it did not happen," said a party worker.
Senior RJD leader Prabhunath Singh said that party workers have blind faith in Lalu Prasad so they will continue to work with the same dedication even in his absence.
Asked if reports of the possibility of withdrawal of the ordinance against convict lawmakers would strain RJD relations with Congress, Singh said, "Lalu Prasad is only authorised to decide on the alliance and tie up with parties.
