The Hindu : Nitish supporters plan showdown

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

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Other States - Bihar

Nitish supporters plan showdown

By K. Balchand

PATNA JULY 15. Part of the battle within the Samata Party is shifting from Delhi to Patna, the epicentre of the party, tomorrow. With the Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, having little or no say in the Parliamentary Party or in the organisation at the national level, his supporters are all set to flex their muscles here, not only to counter the surprise attack launched against their leader by supporters of the Defence Minister and Party President, George Fernandes, at the national council meeting in Delhi on Monday but also to pre-empt the campaign that the two expelled MPs intend to launch on July 19 here.

The Samata Legislature Party is meeting here tomorrow (Wednesday) to take stock of the situation. Mr. Kumar enjoys overwhelming support in the legislative wing if his move to evict the George loyalist and install his own nominee, Upendra Prasad Kushwaha, recently is any indication. Mr. Kumar had also succeeded in removing the state unit chief, Raghunath Jha, MP, who was expelled along with Brahmanand Mandal, MP, a couple of days ago, and nominating Mr. Bashisht Narain Singh,MP, as the new chief. As a matter of fact Mr. Kumar expressed his helplessness in enforcing discipline in the parliamentary party accepting that he lacked majority support there. Hence his group is preparing for the showdown here.

The party spokesman, Udai Narain Chaudhary, charged that those opposed to Mr. Kumar were indulging in the politics of blackmail and reminded that Mr. Prabhunath Singh had himself moved the proposal for action against Mr. Jha and Mr. Mandal at the state executive meeting held in Patna recently, following which both the MPs had been suspended from the party. He said that Mr. Kumar should withdraw his resignation. All eyes are focused on tomorrow's meet as it could once again launch a tirade against Mr. Fernandes much like the one witnessed during the executive meeting. Insiders in the party felt that Mr. Fernandes had sought to settle scores with Mr. Kumar with his supporters unleashing an attack on his (Mr. Kumar's) face.

The two expelled MPs along with two expelled MLAs, Bhai Birendra and Ganesh Paswan, and the expelled MLC, P.K.Sinha, are holding a meeting here on July 19 with the intention of exposing the misdeeds of Mr. Kumar in awarding railway contracts and alleged embezzlement of money in the execution of projects. These leaders also accused Mr. Kumar of being an egotist and pushing the party into a crisis.

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Nitish supporters plan showdown