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Laloo indicates at RJD joining government
New Delhi, May 21: In a softening of posture, RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav today gave ample hints that his party would join the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre saying there was `some progress` in his party`s demand for fair share in the ministry.
New Delhi, May 21: In a softening of posture, RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav today gave ample hints that his party would join the Congress-led coalition government at the
Centre saying there was "some progress" in his party's demand for fair share in the ministry.
A day after the sulking RJD leader returned to Patna in a huff following negotiations on portfolios, Yadav came back to the capital this morning and held a series of meetings with Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh and other senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh, R K Dhawan and Kapil Sibal as also NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
He also met Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
At the end of these confabulations, Yadav told reporters that, "There is some progress. That is why I am saying all this."
"There was no tussle ahead of government formation. You will know everything tomorrow," he added.
"I have given a list of suggestions in writing to Congress leaders," he said without divulging the contents but sources close to him said the Bihar strongman demanded a "fair share" of power for the allies.
"After all Congress cannot form the government on its own. It does need support of allies and must take them into confidence for stability," was his refrain all along as he tried to hammer the point tongue-in-cheek that allies could not be taken for granted. Dropping broad hints that RJD will be in the government, Yadav said, "We all have to run the government together. This is a coalition government."
Asked if he was emerging as a new power Centre by trying to bring the alliance partners under one umbrella, he said there were many constituents having separate identities and their views must be reflected in the running of the coalition government.
Rejecting the suggestion that he was sore over not getting plum portfolios, Yadav said he was not power hungry.
"I have made four prime ministers and I am not Mamata (Banerjee) that I will get upset over small matters," he said.
Yadav, however, remained adamant over his demand for an economic package for Bihar and granting of special status to the state in view of its backwardness and poverty after its bifurcation.
Bureau Report
He also met Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
At the end of these confabulations, Yadav told reporters that, "There is some progress. That is why I am saying all this."
"There was no tussle ahead of government formation. You will know everything tomorrow," he added.
"I have given a list of suggestions in writing to Congress leaders," he said without divulging the contents but sources close to him said the Bihar strongman demanded a "fair share" of power for the allies.
"After all Congress cannot form the government on its own. It does need support of allies and must take them into confidence for stability," was his refrain all along as he tried to hammer the point tongue-in-cheek that allies could not be taken for granted. Dropping broad hints that RJD will be in the government, Yadav said, "We all have to run the government together. This is a coalition government."
Asked if he was emerging as a new power Centre by trying to bring the alliance partners under one umbrella, he said there were many constituents having separate identities and their views must be reflected in the running of the coalition government.
Rejecting the suggestion that he was sore over not getting plum portfolios, Yadav said he was not power hungry.
"I have made four prime ministers and I am not Mamata (Banerjee) that I will get upset over small matters," he said.
Yadav, however, remained adamant over his demand for an economic package for Bihar and granting of special status to the state in view of its backwardness and poverty after its bifurcation.
Bureau Report