Laloo to visit Delhi to stem dissent

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Demoralised but defiant, Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is in New Delhi, even as his cabinet colleague Inder Singh Namdhari quit his government and Communist Party of India leader A B Bardhan reiterated the demand for his resignation.

Namdhari, a minister in the Bihar cabinet, resigned on Friday, claiming his conscience did not allow him to remain in the government of Laloo Yadav who faces a Central Bureau of Investigation chargesheet in the multi-million fodder scam.

According to a Janata Dal general secretary, Laloo Yadav is going to New Delhi to ensure that his resignation is not discussed during Sunday's steering committee meeting of the United Front. He said the Bihar CM regularly called up JD working president Sharad Yadav and has asked him to ensure that his resignation should not be discussed at the steering committee meeting. The Bihar CM has hinted that the well-being of the UF government depended upon it not talking about the fodder scam.

So far, the government kept clear of the latter, leaving it to Bihar Governor A R Kidwai to decide on whether to sanction the CBI chargesheet against Laloo Yadav. Kidwai is yet to decide. Officials at Bihar Niwas described Laloo Yadav as being "defiant, but nervous".

When he goes to Delhi, Laloo Yadav also plans to ensure that central ministers like Kanti Singh and Chandradeo Prasad Verma stay loyal to him. He intends to deter any separatist move by telling them he will go to the Supreme Court if the CBI chargesheets him.

The UF steering committee on Sunday will primarily discuss the impending hike in petroleum prices, which the Left has reservations about, and the women's reservation bill. Sharad Yadav, who is spearheading the campaign opposing the women's bill, has already said he will raise it. That may also keep out uncomfortable discussions about Laloo Yadav's departure.