RJD's foundation day marked by revolt

Ranchi, Jul 5 (UNI) The foundation day celebration of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) today brought despair to the party's state unit with simmering rift coming to fore when rebel groups held a separate function challenging the leadership openly.

In sharp contrast, the rebel camps--comprising five of seven party MLAs--celebrated with by larger participation at the Assemlby campus here. The official function was almost lacklustre in absence of any senior leaders organised at the town hall in the state capital.

The five MLAs include Uday Shankar Singh, Prakash Ram, Ramchandra Chandrabanshi, Videsh Singh and Ramchandra Singh.

Refusing to be termed as rebels, Mr Uday Shankar Singh said they would work to strengthen the party.

Another member of the group, Mr Prakash Ram said the dalits were feeling marginalised in the RJD and they were not being taken into confidence in terms of party policy matters.

He stressed the need on re-organisation of the party and rgretted that the central leadership was ignoring the same.

Last week, RJD's state president Gautam Sagar Rana had decided to celebrate the foundation day in all district headquarters with a view to reach the people.

Accordingfly, Mr Girinath Singh (MLA), a close aide of the president, was present in the function held at Garwah district today.

Mr Singh said, on July 5, 1996, the RJD was formed in Delhi with an aim to fight communal elements and regretted that there were still some people in the party who were putting hurdle in the mission.

Mr Rana hoped that differences would be sorted out and added he would talk to the party's national president Lalu Prasad in this regard.

The differences in the RJD came to light when the SC five legislators favoured joining the BJP-led NDA government in the state following Mr Babulal Marandi's resigning from the party's preliminary membership in May.

UNI PRS SJC AK KP2052