RJD MLA, 4 others expelled

PATNA, Oct 24 (UNI, PTI) — Four Cabinet ministers held secret parleys following the demand of their ouster by Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s brother and legislator Sadhu Yadav amid expulsion of another legislator and four others from the RJD and counter-demand by prominent party MLA Maheswar Prasad for the state’s first couple’s resignation from their respective posts.

Bihar Health Minister Mahavir Prasad, Education Minister Jayprakash Yadav, Public Health Engineering Department Minister Munshilal Rai and Energy Minister Shyam Rajak held a closed-door meeting in the capital here today.

Minutes of the meeting were not available but the ministers are believed to have discussed their future strategy in view of the demand for their dismissal by RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav’s brother-in-law yesterday.

Mr Munshilal Rai has sent a letter to RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav after the demand for the minister’s dismissal. The contents were not available.

The dissension in the RJD aggravated with its senior legislator Maheshwar Prasad Yadav, seeking resignation of party chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and Chief Minister Rabri Devi from their respective posts owing moral responsibility for the party’s abysmal performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

RJD MLA from Banmankhi Chunnilal Rajvanshi and four others have been expelled from the party for six years on charges of anti-party activity.

Airing his voice against the "arrogance, dictatorship and megalomania" of Mr Laloo Yadav, he vowed to continue his struggle within the party for the revival of its image and reorganisation of the state government. Claiming to have support of several leaders, he said those who were frustrated with Mr Laloo Yadav's behaviour and stand were in constant touch with him.

He said Mr Laloo Yadav's dictatorship, promotion of his family interests and self-assessment were responsible for the debacle of the party in the elections. "Laloo Prasad Yadav was totally exposed during the election in which the voters taught him a lesson".

Criticising him for his arrogant behaviour he said the ministers and legislators were forced to act as servants for the de facto Chief Minister of Bihar.

Mr Maheshwar Yadav, who became a legislator for the second term from the Gayghat Assembly segment, said either Mr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh or state Assembly Speaker Deo Narain Yadav or state legislative council Chairman Jabir Hussain, all of whom had a clean image, should be handed over the post of the party President and Chief Minister.

He said fielding of scam-tainted party legislator R.K. Rana's wife Naina Rana in the election and induction of Mr Shakuni Choudhry's son in the ministry sent a wrong message to party leaders.

He, however, refused to leave the party, saying he would continue to raise voice against the misdeeds of the duo with the help of like-minded members.

Earlier, the brother-in-law of the RJD President, Mr Sadhu Yadav, MLC, had described the entire Cabinet as "brokers and sycophants" who had led to the party's crushing defeat.

He had warned that "if corrupt ministers were not sacked and replaced with younger legislators, the RJD will have to face another humiliating defeat in the approaching Assembly poll".