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RJD dissidents want Rabri Devi out: PTI

"The poor turnout reflects the downslide in Laloo's popularity. People are disillusioned with the RJD rule and want a change," dissident RJD MP Nagmani told PTI. Claiming that seven parliamentarian and 50 legislators boycotted the Patna rally, Nagmani said dissident parliamentarian met in New Delhi on Sunday to chalk out future course of action.

Out of seven Lok Sabha members, Nagmani said he "along with Anwarul Haq and Sukhdeo Paswan and some Rajya Sabha members, including RJD President Ranjan Prasad Yadav, attended the meeting".

He said the dissidents had received a firm assurance from Samata Party leaders George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar, Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav, Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Modi that "the moment Ranjan Yadav left the RJD, they would jointly support him for chief ministership".

Nagmani also claimed that the dissidents were ready to part ways with Laloo Yadav and support Ranjan Yadav for the leadership.

Daring the RJD president to take action against them for staying away from the rally, he said, "The moment Laloo takes any action, we will split the party and submit formal letters to the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson."

Describing the rally as a "total flop", Nagmani thanked the people of Bihar for ignoring Laloo Yadav's call to turn up in large numbers.

He said the dissidents adopted a resolution that the state's leadership should be passed on to Ranjan Yadav and promised full support to him.

Nagmani said the best way for Laloo Yadav to keep his flock together was to hand over reins of the state to Ranjan Yadav. "Rabri should be asked to step down and Ranjan Yadav should be allowed to take over the mantle," he said, pledging full backing to Ranjan Yadav.

He said after the state's bifurcation, the rest of Bihar required an able leadership, which Ranjan Yadav alone could provide and not a "gentle" woman like Rabri Devi.

"The change of guard is in the overall interest of Bihar," he said.

On whether boycotting the party rally did not amount to indulging to anti-party activities, Nagmani retorted, "Let Laloo Yadav take action against us. We will give him a befitting reply".

The RJD has seven MPs in Lok Sabha and at least three of them are understood to have been toying with the idea of splitting the party.

Meanwhile, JD-U spokesman Mohan Prakash said the "poor turnout" showed that people were disenchanted with the ruling party and demanded Rabri's immediate resignation.

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