Deve Gowda-Laloo war puts Gujral in a spot

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral's first political crisis looms large. It involves the battle between his Janata Dal colleagues, H D Deve Gowda and Laloo Prasad Yadav.

After ensuring that Deve Gowda's new-found protege Devendra Prasad Yadav was kept out of Gujral's ministry, Laloo Yadav has begun a campaign in the United Front's ranks to ensure that the former prime minister is not given any position in the 13-party United Front.

Two senior UF leaders on Tuesday confirmed to this correspondent that the prime minister was concerned about the way Laloo Yadav is flaunting his muscle not only in the Janata Dal, but also in the Front, a cause of irritation for its senior leaders.

On Monday evening, Laloo Yadav called a meeting of JD MPs from Bihar and told them there was a move to marginalise him in the party. He said those who owed their political existence to his munificence were now conspiring against him in league with political lightweights who had got what they deserved.

This was an ill-concealed reference to Deve Gowda who is said to have wooed Devendra Prasad Yadav for the purpose of seeking Laloo Yadav's ouster as Bihar chief minister.

Gujral is now in touch with other Front leaders in a bid to defuse the rising tensions between the former prime minister and the Bihar CM.

According to the two UF leaders quoted earlier, most Front leaders have started resenting Laloo Yadav's belligerence. UF convener Nara Chandrababu Naidu recently advised Laloo Yadav against escalating his battle with Deve Gowda, but is said to have been rebuffed by the Bihar chief minister.

Devendra Prasad Yadav's exclusion from the government has only heightened the tensions between Deve Gowda and Laloo Yadav. While the Bihar chief minister continues issuing one barb after another against the former premier, Deve Gowda is reported to fashioning his strategy before hitting out against Laloo Yadav. As the war of attrition continues, an apprehensive Gujral is keeping his fingers crossed.