At a time when speculation is rife about the imminent leadership crisis in the RJD and the party’s ‘bleak’ future in the wake of lalu’s conviction, party’s senior most leader after lalu, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, talked to The Pioneer’s Saturday Special rejecting reports of any crisis and claimed that voters will teach conspirators (Congress, and JD-U) a lesson in the polls.
What is the political future of the RJD after lalu Prasad’s conviction in a fodder scam case and his disqualification from electoral politics for 11 yearsIJ
The RJD is the party of the poor, underprivileged and downtrodden people, and lalu Prasad has been its leader. It is true that he has been convicted by the CBI court, but we still have an option to appeal against the judgement in a higher court. We are confident that he will get relief from the higher court in the case and come out to lead the party from the front.
The future of the party is good as people of the State now have become fed up with the present regime of Nitish Kumar. The backward class people have started talking about lalu Prasad and the RJD. In the coming lok Sabha election, we will defeat all other parties, rather we will wipe them out. People are waiting for the right time to give vent to their frustration against the Nitish Government.
But what about the leadership of the party in the absence of lalu PrasadIJ
Where is the question of leadership crisis when our leader, lalu Prasad, is alive and kicking. Those who are thinking that there would be leadership crisis in the RJD are living in a fool’s paradise. We will take direction and guidelines from lalu Prasad wherever he is. We will visit him in jail and discuss party issues. We all will work together to strengthen the party. Nobody should read between the lines and think that the RJD is in leadership crisis after our leader’s incarceration.
Do you think the party will benefit if Rabri Devi or her sons take over the reinsIJ
Where is the question of anybody else taking over the charge of the party, when lalu Prasadji is still there. We all will take the party forward following his directions. Each worker of the party will become lalu Prasad and will work with double zeal to bring the party back in power. There is no second or third line of leadership in the party.
You mean lalu Prasad will run the party from the jailIJ
Why notIJ No one can run a Government from behind bars, but anybody can run his party from jail. A leader can give direction to his party leaders and workers from there. What’s wrong in itIJ What is the problemIJ lalu’s decision will guide the party’s activities always.
Do you think the Congress has dumped lalu Prasad for hobnobbing with Nitish Kumar in the StateIJ
What should I sayIJ Everyone is saying this. There are some indications also. They have joined hands against lalu Prasad, but they all will have to face the consequences. As far as the Congress is concerned, what should I sayIJ We are a very small party with just four seats in Parliament. What is our aukat (strength)IJ Moreover, we don’t want to be involved in what the Congress does and with whom it hobnobs. We’re only concerned with our party and will work to strengthen it.
But do you think the RJD can still enter into an alliance with the Congress in the upcoming lok Sabha pollsIJ
It is for our party leader, lalu Prasad, to decide. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had recently said that all secular parties must unite, and we are ready for it. But one must remember that we had fought last Parliamentary and State Assembly elections against the Congress and the results has been before everyone to see. Therefore the Congress has to come clean. Why should we expect any help from it nowIJ
What about ties with Nitish KumarIJ
No question of it. Nitish Kumar is not secular. He is a pseudo-secular leader. He acts as per his convenience. He says something and does something else. He is not man to rely on. Therefore, we’d like to make an alliance with secular parties minus Nitish Kumar.
Do you think the Congress had brought the Ordinance just to save lalu Prasad, and later Rahul Gandhi tore it up to get close to Nitish KumarIJ
It is an internal issue of the Congress party and we have nothing to do with it. I still wonder why the Congress would bring an Ordinance just to save lalu Prasad, whose political strength is just of four MPsIJ Also we’re supporting the UPA Government from outside just to safeguard secularism. If the Congress wants to go with Nitish Kumar it is welcome to do it, but the Congress should keep it in mind that Nitish Kumar does politics of convenience, and unlike lalu Prasad he is an opportunist leader of the first rank.
lalu Prasad’s younger son Tejaswi Yadav is said to be emerging as heir apparent of laluIJ
He is lalu Prasad’s son and nobody can deny this fact. He is a talented and intelligent boy to take any role, but then there are several young leaders in the party like him. Rumours are rife that he will take over the reins of the party, or someone else will take over. The party is intact and decisions are taken collectively. He (Tejaswi) himself has said that the party will run on the directions of the senior party leaders. Haven’t you heard his statementIJ
But, earlier Rabri Devi had said that she, along with her sons, will lead the party, similar to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul GandhiIJ
She (Rabri) is a simple lady. Can anybody stop anyone from airing his or her views. She must have expressed her views and she has got every right to do it.
Whats next for the partyIJ
We are meeting on Sunday (Oct 6). We will decide the future course of action. All the senior party leaders will attend the meeting to discuss the difficult time the party is facing. We will chalk out our next plan of action. Party workers know that their leader has been falsely implicated in the fodder scam. They will now be more enthusiastic to work for the party. It happens in our society. People vote more aggressively on sympathy and emotional issues.