UF ultimatum to Laloo to resign by June 27

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Disgusted by the Bihar chief minister's refusal to quit following the gubernatorial sanction to prosecute him in the fodder scam, the United Front leadership has served an ultimatum to Laloo Prasad Yadav to tender his resignation by June 27.

A senior Janata Dal leader told Rediff On The NeT that Prime Minister I K Gujral served the ultimatum to Laloo Yadav through a party functionary. It is learnt that Gujral is also considering the dismissal of the Bihar government, in case Laloo Yadav does not relinquish the chief minister's office.

Significantly, the UF leadership had sent a fax to Laloo Yadav on Friday, asking him to resign on moral grounds.

Soon after the ultimatum was served, senior UF leaders started putting pressure on Laloo Yadav to quit. CPI-M general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet has suggested that Laloo Yadav's resignation should be the only item on the agenda of the UF steering committee meeting on June 27. If he does not quit by this date, it is understood the committee is expected to pass a resolution urging Laloo Yadav to either quit or face dismissal of his government.

JD secretary general Ram Vilas Paswan has reportedly made it clear that the Union government is weighing the pros and cons of the dismissal of the Bihar government, if Laloo Yadav remains adamant.

Meanwhile, senior UF functionaries indicated that the Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to chargesheet Laloo Yadav, former Union minister Chandradeo Prasad Verma and Dr Jagannath Mishra, senior Congress leader, in the fodder scam. The prime minister is understood to have discussed this matter with CBI Director Joginder Singh and Intelligence Bureau chief Arun Bhagat.

Gujral is also learnt to have discussed the imminent chargesheet with other JD leaders. The prime minister informed them that his ultimatum came after assessing the Front's overall interests.

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