The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)—the party of Bihar former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad is facing serious crisis since its existence split into two factions in Jharkhand on Sunday with the group lead by RJD former State president, Gautam Sagar Rana forming Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Loktantrik Party.
The rebel RJD leaders organised a meeting on Sunday christened as ‘Parivatrtan Sabha’ and decided to form separate political unit claiming that there outfit is real RJD based on social justice and empowerment of poor, tribals, Dalits and extremely backward castes.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Loktantrik Party, newly elected State president Gautam Sagar Rana said, “The RJD has distanced from its core policies and ideals. The party’s power, which was led by Lalu Prasad, is now shared by different RJD leaders who have their own goals and aspirations.”
Rana a socialist leader had worked with Jayaprakash Narayan, Karpoori Thakur, Lalu Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan and Nitish Kumar and has served as RJD Jharkhand unit president for five times. He was one of senior leaders of RJD both during united Bihar and when Jharkhand was created.
Rana said, “Lalu jee without looking into the merits of leaders last month removed me as State president and appointed a person having criminal background as new RJD president which is against RJD’s policy of social justice and empowerment of poor.”
Echoing the views of Rana, RJD’s former spokesperson, Kailash Yadav said, “Ours is real RJD as the group has support of senior leaders. All 24 district units presidents who attended the meeting decided to repose faith on Gautam Sagar Rana.” Earlier, the faction led by Rana, a fortnight back had given June 21 ultimatum urging the RJD’s central leadership to consider the decision on appointment of Abhay Kumar Singh as new State president.
The breakaway faction leaders claimed that the present State leadership is occupied by leaders from Bihar having no political knowledge or existence of State. Yadav claimed that the senior party leaders started moving away from RJD ever since leaders from Bihar started getting prominence in State leadership. Sources said that desertion of former State RJD presidents Annapurna Devi, Giriraj Singh and RJD general secretary, Manoj Bhuyian was due to Subhash Yadav a leader from Bihar started growing prominence.
Subhaash Yadav had unsuccessfully contested from Chatra on RJD ticket, but the leader was not even able to forfeit his deposit from Chatra. Worse, the faction headed by Gautam Sagar Rana had given June 21 deadline to solve the crisis, but none of the central leadership from RJD even managed tried to solve the crisis.
A senior State RJD leader requesting anonymity said, “The RJD since its existence in 1997 is facing serious crisis. The party president Lalu Prasad is behind bar in connection with multi crore fodder scam and admitted at RIMS, Tejashwi Yadav son of Lalu jee and leading the party after party’s rout in Lok Sabha election is missing. The absence of these two leaders has created a vacuum in party.”
In just concluded Lok Sabha election the RJD faced a humiliating defeat since its existence. The party failed to win single seats in Bihar and Jharkhand despite the fact the party was part of Grand Alliance in both the State.