Saviour Lalu angry at demonstration, blames media for mess in party

Ranchi, July 11 (UNI) Dissidence in Jharkhand unit of the RJD continues despite the presence of party national president Lalu Prasad as five of the seven party MLAs did not turn up for a meeting supposed to be held at a city hotel here today.

Except for and state president Gautam Sagar Rana and legislator Annapurna Devi, no senior leader was seen where Mr Yadav rushed immediately after his appearance at a special CBI court relating to multi-crore rupee fodder scam.

Adding to his woes, a group of party workers holding placards against Mr Rana demonstrated in the hotel premises.

Mr Prasad tried to put up a brave face while talking to reporters after the meeting that hardly lasted for a few minutes.

He held the media responsible for the mess, saying the party was united in the state but the reporters were engaged in dividing it.

Refusing to admit that there was dissidence in state unit, Mr Prasad admitted that the party was a bit weak in the state but accused the media of maligning its image.

''The party has authorised me to make the leader of Legislature wing but I have told them to elect among themselves, '' he said.

The RJD supremo turned his attention towards the BJP-led NDA government in the state.

The NDA government's attitude was such that no developmental project was taking place here and it had forced the Mittal group to change its earlier decision to set up the Rs 40,000-crore steel plant in Jharkhand.

With five of the seven RJD MLAs in Jharkhand openly indulging in dissident accitivites, Mr Rana had recently said the matter would be placed before Mr Yadav.

The tenth foundation day celebration of the party, brought despair with simmering rift coming to fore when rebel groups held a separate function on the occasion in an open challenge to the leadership.

Refusing to be termed as rebels, Mr Uday Shankar Singh said they would work to strengthen the party and would not spare anybody who would be found trying to do so.

Difference came to light when the five favoured joining the BJP-led NDA government in the state following Mr Babulal Marandi's resigning from the BJP's preliminary membership in May.

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