Zee Media Bureau
Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday paraded nine MLAs who were part of a group that reportedly revolted against their party and blamed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for engineering a split in his party to save his minority government.
Speaking to reporter outside the Bihar Assembly, the RJD chief said, “We have just met the Assembly secretary with nine MLAs since the Speaker has run away. This proves that there is no split in the party. RJD will launch an agitation against the JD-U government for attempting to split my party. We will not spare anyone.”
While he went to the state assembly, there were reports of RJD workers pelting stones on Speaker`s house.
Lalu is also due to meet the state`s Governor and demand action against those who allegedly conspired to split his party.
earlier, the RJD chief held an emergency meeting of his party legislators, which was attended by nine out of the 13 legislators who had reportedly revolted against the party yesterday.
The meeting was held at the official residence of former chief minister and his wife Rabri Devi.
After the conclusion of the meeting, the RJD chief said, “I am going to the Assembly and Raj Bhawan with my party MLAs.``
“I will not let go off this incident so easily,” Lalu said.
The RJD chief summoned party MLAs for an emergency meeting following reports of a rebellion in his party by 13 MLAs.
Concerned over reports of a rebellion in his party, the RJD chief arrived in Patna this morning from Delhi.
Shortly upon his arrival, Lalu accused state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of hatching a conspiracy to split his party to save his government, which is in a minority.
Lalu Prasad told reporters that Nitish Kumar has been offering lucrative posts to his party legislators to create fissures.
"Nitish Kumar is eyeing RJD legislators and offering them lucrative posts to split the party," Lalu Prasad told media persons here.
He also accused Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary of being involved in the conspiracy to split the RJD. However, Lalu Prasad claimed that 9 of 13 legislators had returned to the party fold and denied any split.
In events that unfolded Monday, the RJD looked headed for a split after 13 legislators said they were no longer with the party. The RJD rebels intend to join the ruling Janata Dal-United.
But later, party leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui denied any rift and six of the "rebels" said they were still with the Lalu Prasad-led party.
Late Monday night three more RJD legislators said they were with the party.
Earlier, Choudhary accepted the letter with signature of 13 RJD legislators and identified them as a separate group in the house.
The RJD has 22 members in the 243-member house, while the JDU has 118 legislators.
