Patna: Two days ago, the Supreme Court asked a lower court in Ranchi to revive the conspiracy charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam. The apex court has given nine months for the lower court to complete trials in the case, which is over two decades old.
Many Lalu Yadav loyalists, say sources, are contemplating switching sides. The ruling, they say, has rattled the old guards in the party who believe that the tainted leader will establish his son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav in the party.
“There are many senior leaders in the party who think that Lalu Yadav will do everything to establish his son as heir apparent in the party. Many are mulling switching sides,” a highly placed source told News18.
Many others like Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Taslimuddin have also reportedly voiced their displeasure over revival of the charges and the prospect of his son heading the party. Coupled with the fact that Lalu Yadav’s other children, son Tej Pratap and daughter Misa Bharti, have voiced their political aspirations, the feeling of RJD becoming a family-run party is rampant among the old guards.
“Lalu Yadav won’t be able to contest elections post the conviction. And many in the party don’t want to be led by his children,” sources told News18.
So, does the recent crisis spell doom for RJD? Interestingly, party members have said they are not sure.
“Lalu Prasad will always be our leader. But we don’t know what will happen once the trial ends,” said Raghuwans Prasad, a senior party leader. There are others like MLAs like Surendra Yadav and Jagdanand Singh who have junked these doubts.
But now, the alliance that was expected to take on the saffron brigade head on, seems to be losing ground. While, according to party sources, many from RJD are in touch with Nitish Kumar, JD(U) has also not voiced its support for the tainted leader.
Can Lalu overcome doubts from some of his own and continue to keep the party together? The next nine months will tell.
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