RJD, JD-U feud over charges on Lalu Prasad Yadav

Patna: Scam charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav have sparked an open spat within the grand secular alliance in Bihar.

With statements like “RJD is a stronger party” and the JD(U) leaders are “busy in setting up their own officers on creamy posts”, the RJD on Monday gave clear indications of growing differences within the alliance.

These statements were made by RJD MLA Bhai Birendra in reaction to JD(U)’s continuous refusal to support Mr Yadav from senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi’s allegations that Mr Yadav’s family acquired land from his own party’s legislators as quid pro quo for the party’s ticket and ministerial berths.

Differences cropped up after JD(U) national general secretary R.C.P. Singh on Sunday refused to defend Mr Yadav. “We are not here to defend anyone. It is the responsibility of the person against whom the allegations are being levelled to defend himself,” the RJD leader said.  

Political analysts are of the view that scam charges against the RJD chief and JD(U)’s indifference towards the issue may affect the political situation of the state. They said in the given situation efforts to stitch a larger alliance against the BJP at the national level may also fail to take off.

Senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, when contacted by this newspaper, said, “Our party is facing attacks from all sides and some of the parties are considering our tolerance as weakness”.

However, Congress state president and education minister Ashok Chaudhary on Monday dismissed talks of growing differences in the ruling alliance. He said that the “Congress will not let the grand secular alliance split in Bihar, Lalu Yadav is a strong leader and he is capable of posing a direct threat to the BJP”.

RJD chief Lalu has been fighting a lone battle ever since scam allegations were levelled against him and his family as political ally JD(U) maintained silence on the issue.