Lalu’s chances of retaining Cabinet berth remote

Singh also referred to yesterday’s statement of party media department in-charge Janardan Dwivedi,who had categorically said that Congress will discuss the issue of government formation with its pre-poll allies

“Pre-poll allies as Janardan Dwivedi has indicated does not include RJD at the moment,” Singh said,when asked about Prasad’s party.

Acknowledging that Prasad is a member of the UPA government “as of now”,the Congress leader was quick to add,”he (Prasad) did not consider us (Congress) strong enough for a pre-poll alliance.”

RJD,the main opposition party in Bihar,contested the Lok Sabha election in alliance with Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP while Congress fought on its own in the state.

While RJD bagged four seats in Bihar,LJP drew a blank. Congress managed to win two seats. There are a total of 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

After the remarkable improvement in Congress’ performance in Uttar Pradesh,party leaders from Bihar have now upped the ante for replicating UP formula (of going it alone in polls) in Bihar as well. This could act as another

dampener for the RJD chief’s prospects of getting into the ministry.

Asked about the possibility of Prasad’s inclusion in the ministry,Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said,”We will cross the bridge when we come to it…It is too premature at this point to make a comment.”

He maintained the party’s target now is to govern “without getting distracted from the kind of bickering,which a coalition government sees.”

“The question is how to ensure stability for the next five years,” he said,adding that “it’s not a question of numbers any more.”

Lalu says humiliated by Cong leaders,protests at Cabinet meet

Meanwhile,stung by comments of certain Congress leaders,RJD chief Lalu Prasad today protested at the Cabinet meeting,saying he felt humiliated by the “derogatory” remarks.

The outgoing Railway Minister said he had made his displeasure known to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as also Congress President Sonia Gandhi but maintained that RJD would continue “unconditional support” to the UPA.

“I have lodged protest in the Cabinet meeting today. I

told the Prime Minister that small-time Congress leaders are making derogatory remarks and this is not good for the health of the government,” Prasad told reporters later.

He did not name the Congress leaders by whose comments he had been hurt.

During the Cabinet meeting,Prasad said certain Congress leaders had been humiliating him and leaders of some other allies during television debates,according to one of the ministers present.

Prasad sought to know the reasons for the “humiliation” by Congress leaders but the Prime Minister preferred not not to join issues.

Prasad also cited former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s statement that the Congress should go it alone in the Assembly polls in the state and said this was an insult to NCP leader Sharad Pawar,a constituent of the UPA.

Along with the Prime Minister,Pawar also preferred silence.

Hours after the Cabinet meeting,senior Congress leader R K Dhawan visited Prasad at his residence,apparently with some message from the party leadership.

Dhawan,however,insisted that it was just a courtesy call and had nothing to do with any invitation for joining the government.

“To remain in government or not is not a big thing but my unconditional support will continue for UPA,” Prasad told reporters later.

“I have extended unconditional support to the UPA government. I have succeeded in defeating communal forces in this elections,” said the RJD chief about whom there is uncertainty over getting a berth in the new Cabinet.

Congress has indicated that it may not include RJD in the new government,saying formation of the next Cabinet would be decided in consultation with only “pre-poll” allies.

RJD,along with LJP,had contested separately from Congress despite being part of the UPA,much to discomfort of Congress.

RJD,whose party had 24 seats in the dissolved Lok Sabha,won only four seats this time.