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Sharad Yadav not interested in cabinet berth

Special Correspondent in New Delhi

Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav is in a dilemma of his own making.

He went to town complaining of largescale rigging in Madhepura -- where he confronts bete noire Laloo Prasad Yadav -- and the Patna high court yesterday stayed the official declaration of results in the constituency.

Sharad Yadav has also been summoned by the Election Commission in Delhi to give specific details of the alleged malpractices by his rivals.

But with the counting so far giving him an unassailable lead of 24,000 votes, Sharad Yadav might be having second thoughts about his original complaint. For public consumption, he has of course reiterated that he stands by whatever he has said -- ''I myself saw at least ten booths where the rigging was being committed publicly'' -- and that he wants justice to be done.

In interviews to the media, his emphasis has, however, subtly shifted. He is now talking about how he and his party have to concentrate on imparting stability to the 23-party National Democratic Alliance headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In other words -- for those who can discern political speak -- the nitty-gritty of Cabinet berths and the other fishes and loaves of power is about to begin.

Sharad Yadav, for sure, denies any such crude intent. ''My stature alone is enough to ensure me a Cabinet berth of my liking in the new regime. But positions of power is the last thing on my mind at the moment,'' he says. Tell Laloo Yadav or H D Deve Gowda that!

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