Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan fear Congress cosying up to Nitish Kumar

NEW DELHI: Sensing a move on the part of the Congress to open negotiations with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s opposition leaders Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan have decided to ask the Congress leadership to clarify at the earliest whether it wants to join forces with them ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The attempt to open alliance talks comes in the backdrop of two significant developments — Congress’ efforts to woo the ruling JD(U) by evolving a composite index to measure backwardness of the state and the rejection of RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s plea for transferring the judge hearing the fodder scam case.

The new composite index prepared by chief economic advisor Raghuram Rajan will help Congress come close to meeting the JD(U)’s demand for according a special status to the state. Nitish Kumar has said JD(U) would be willing to offer support to the party that concedes his demand for a special category status.

The AK Antony committee, tasked with finalising Congress’ alliances, will meet next month to take a view on Bihar, a person familiar with the matter said.

The fodder scam case is troubling for the RJD chief as a conviction in the case could push him out of the electoral fray. With a power struggle of sorts on in the RJD, his absence from the scene could be debilitating for the party.

“Lalu Prasad is looking for an assurance from us. But we are yet to formally discuss the issue of tie-up in Bihar,” said a Congress leader, who did not wish to be identified.

Prasad and Paswan, who met at the RJD office in the Parliament House complex on Wednesday, took stock of the emerging political situation in the state. Paswan has promised to stay in the alliance even if the Congress refuses to back it, RJD leaders said.

A section of Congress is of the view that the situation can change dramatically if legal troubles compound for Prasad in the coming weeks. According to them, JD(U), which commands support among the Most Backward Classes, Mahadalits and Pasmanda Muslims, can bring more electoral dividends for Congress. “Muslims will vote for the party or alliance best equipped to stall Narendra Modi. The JD(U) has a credible base to attract Muslims,” said the Congress leader.