Dal eyes alliance with RJD and Congress - Calcutta Telegraph

Jitan Ram Manjhi

Patna, Sept. 6: The JDU leadership is trying to get the RJD and Congress in the Jitan Ram Manjhi ministry as part of a strategy to cement the bond among the three partners of the grand alliance that fared well in the recent Assembly byelections.

“Is there any objection to the three parties coming together in the government? We (JDU, RJD and Congress) are already working in a coordinated manner against the BJP,” said JDU parliamentary affairs minister Shravan Kumar. Another senior JDU leader, who spoke under cover of anonymity, was more forthcoming. “The process is under way to formulate the modalities for inducting our colleagues from the RJD and Congress in the ministry,” he said.

Top leaders from the RJD, JDU and Congress remained tightlipped on the move.

Senior BJP leaders reacted sharply, saying the alliance should join hands to “loot” the state. The alliance won six Assembly seats against the BJP’s four last month.

“The Congress and RJD should now be equal partners in the loot. We will be happy if the RJD and Congress join the government. At least, the people of the state will see how the parties they had voted against in 2010 have decided to enjoy the fruits of power,” said BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Nandkishore Yadav added: “The moment the JDU formed the alliance with Lalu Prasad’s RJD and the Congress, we knew these parties would join government too. The foundation stone for bringing in Jungle Raj-II was laid when the three parties came together.”

Congress legislature party leader Sadanand Singh neither agreed nor denied the move. “Our party high command will take a final call on the issue. We will follow what our central party high command dictates,” he said.

Lalu is away in Mumbai convalescing after undergoing heart surgery. Former chief minister Nitish Kumar, the supreme leader of the JDU, too has not so far spoken on the issue. Sources in both the camps revealed that the process of bringing in other partners of the grand alliance might begin after Lalu’s return to Patna and a “session” among the three alliance partners at the top level.