Don't allow Laloo to nominate his successor: Dissidents

Laloo Prasad Yadav's opponents on Thursday said they would not accept the Bihar chief minister's nominee as his successor.

Opposing the proposal that Laloo Yadav should persuaded to quit as chief minister and allowed to name his successor, former institutional finance minister Mangni Lal Mandal said there was no such provision in the party's constitution. The new incumbent should be elected at a formal meeting of the Janata Dal legislature party, he said. ''The JDLP is more powerful than the party's national president.'' JD legislator Chandrika Rai echoed similar views.

Another rebel legislator Ganesh Prasad Yadav said, "Though we talk of democracy, we are actually in monarchy."

Former state revenue minister Inder Singh Namdhari said a nominee would not be acceptable. ''Only an elected leader or one accepted through consensus will provide a stable administration,'' he added.

Namdhari said the need of the hour was President's rule, which was not being imposed on the apprehension that Yadav would split the Janata Dal. He further said that Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral was scared of the split.

Asked if Water Resources Minister Jagannand Singh's sudden visit to New Delhi would be successful, Namdhari said the mission would fail. Singh was asked to hand over Laloo Yadav's resignation as chief minister after ensuring the party president's post for him. However, the Laloo camp said Singh is in Delhi to assist Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who had been made central observer for the Dal's presidential election.

UNI

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