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Sonia-Laloo deal may see RJD in, Rabri out

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

A senior Bihar Congress politician today revealed that a secret deal had been struck between party president Sonia Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav to replace Rabri Devi as chief minister if the state government is reinstated.

The politician could not give details, saying the leaderships of the two parties are still in the process of giving the deal final touches.

But he argued that if one scrutinises Gandhi's earlier statement, it will be observed that she had only said Rabri Devi (not the RJD) had lost her moral right to continue in office following the massacre of 12 dalits in Narayanpur village in Jehanabad district.

Thus, by mentioning Rabri Devi by name, Gandhi shrewdly kept her options open on the issue of voting on President's rule in Bihar, he pointed out.

If the deal between Gandhi and Yadav comes through, it will leave both parties happy at the expense of the BJP-led coalition government. It will enable the Congress to take the credit for removing Rabri Devi while Laloo Yadav will once again occupy Bihar's political centre-stage, apart from gaining substantial clout at the Centre.

Significantly, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (National Democratic Front) comprising Laloo Yadav's RJD and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party seems to be upbeat. RLM politicians told reporters to await further political developments that will see the victory of "secular, democratic" forces over the "forces of communalism".

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