Holding the key to the by-poll for two Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, which has been approached by the JD(U) to ensure victory of its candidates, has decided to hold its Legislature party meeting here on Tuesday.
The meeting has been called at 10 Circular Road residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, party legislators said.
While the stand on June 19 voting will be firmed up at the meeting, some RJD MLAs were against acceding to the appeal by Nitish Kumar accusing him of “damaging” the party and Mr. Prasad time and again.
ADVERTISEMENT
Incidentally, the JD(U) has also called its Legislature party meeting at One Anne Marg residence of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, across the road to the RJD venue, on Tuesday at 6.30 p.m.
The RJD Legislature party had authorised Mr. Prasad to take a decision on voting but the latter had said that he would take a decision after consulting party MLAs.
Burying two decades of rivalry, Mr. Kumar had rung up Mr. Prasad on Friday, appealing to him to support the JD(U) candidates — Pawan Varma and Gulam Rasool Balyawi — to foil the challenge posed by the party rebels and the BJP.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Kumar also had telephonic talks with the Congress and the CPI leaders for forging a unity of secular forces against the saffron party.
In the Bihar Assembly, whose effective strength is 232 with 11 vacancies, the ruling JD(U) has 117 MLAs, including the Speaker, the BJP has 84, the RJD 21, the Congress 4, Independents 5 and the CPI 1.