Patna: RJD workers and leaders spent some anxious moments outside 10 Circular Road for the second consecutive day on Thursday as the CBI court in Ranchi deferred the date to decide quantum of punishment on RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

The RJD's prime address bore a deserted look in the morning, owing to the cold, but RJD workers and leaders began arriving around noon.

RJD spokesperson and Hilsa MLA Shakti Singh Yadav was the first lawmaker to reach Lalu's residence. "Whatever be the court decision, we will welcome it," Shakti said at the outset. "If there is any error in decision we have every right to approach the High Court and Supreme Court. But I firmly believe the court will announce minimum punishment for our leader, because one person cannot be convicted several times in the same case," Shakti said.

He then went inside to meet Rabri, Tej Pratap and leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

"We have full faith in the judiciary and our leaders will get justice sooner or later," said Akhtarul Islam Sahin, the RJD's Samastipur MLA, who too had turned up at 10 Circular Road. "Even in Lalu ji's absence, the RJD is not at all affected and is emerging as the strongest party in Bihar. The BJP will be uprooted from the state in the next Assembly poll."

Raja Pakar MLA and former minister Shiv Chandra Ram went inside 10 Circular Road and on emerging said Lalu will get minimum punishment. Some MLAs too turned up to express solidarity with Lalu's family. Then there were youth RJD leaders and activists of the Dharmnirpeksh Sevak Sangh, wearing green trousers. The DSS is a youth organisation formed by Lalu's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav to counter the RSS.

RJD youth workers and DSS members were found holding a banner saying " Mai bhi Lalu, tu bhi Lalu, abto sara desh hai Lalu (Even I am Lalu, you are Lalu, now whole country is Lalu)". Slogans like "Lalu tum mat ghabrana, tere piche saara zamaana" rent the air.

Lalu's supporters were continuously receiving updates on developments in the Ranchi court and Lalu's movement there from party supporters there.

"Lalu ji is a messiah of the poor and downtrodden," said Iqbal Ahmad, the RJD youth wing spokesperson, while raising slogans in support of Lalu. "Throughout his political career, he has been struggling for equal rights for the suppressed class, because of which he is behind bars. The entire Muslim community is with Laluji and our every vote will go to him during elections."