RJD prepares for elections

BY MUKESH RANJAN

New Delhi

June 27: The RJD has decided to begin work in its backyard to ready itself for any eventuality, even though the party is not in favour of early elections and is putting pressure on the Congress not to go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear at the cost of the government.

Not ruling out the possibility of early elections in the backdrop of the Left parties further toughening their stand on the deal, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has convened a meting of the party’s core group on Saturday to discuss strategy to deal with expected formidable electoral challenges posed by the ruling NDA in Bihar. Immediately after the core group finishes its deliberations, the party leaders will sit in for central working committee meting to formalise the decisions taken.

For the first time in the history of the party’s existence, such a meeting is taking place. It is even more significant that the party has recently been accorded the tag of being a nation party by the Election Commission.

Issues expected to come up for discussion include alliance with UPA partners in Bihar and Jharkhand, how to publicise and encash electorally the central flow of funds in the two states, strategy to counter adverse impact of inflation and rejuvenation of rank and file of the party. Other than Mr Yadav, the core committee meeting will be attended by Union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, corporate affairs minister Prem Chand Gupta, party general secretary Ram Deo Bhandari and minister of state in the HRD M.A.A. Fatmi. and minister of state for water resources Jaiprakash Narain Yadav.

In party circles, it is, however, also believed that the leaders will also look for options to expand the party’s base in other parts of the country.