Most important man in Grand Alliance

The political crisis in the state has suddenly raised state Congress chief Ashok Choudhary's stake. On Sunday, he was seen shuttling between 1 Aney Marg and 10 Circular Road amid whispers that Nitish Kumar had put the onus of saving the Grand Alliance on the Congress. A tired Choudhary took an afternoon siesta before restarting the shuttling, ignoring journalists and their queries. Several senior Congress leaders seemed amused. "The Grand Alliance is doomed if it has been left to Ashok," remarked one of them. "See what has happened to the education department ever since he has taken over." The senior senior Congress leader insisted that Choudhary would be unlikely to convince either Nitish or Lalu.

The family

There were reports of Lalu Prasad finally agreeing to get his son Tejashwi Yadav to quit the ministry for the survival of the Grand Alliance. However, the very next day, Lalu strongly contradicted the reports. According to a section of RJD leaders, Lalu met strong resistance from his family members who were strongly opposed to the idea of Tejashwi quitting. "Lalu ji gave in. After all our party resolves round one family," said a senior RJD leader. However, party leaders are wondering how long Lalu can hope to keep the deputy CM in the ministry as chief minister Nitish Kumar has dug in his heals. There were also rumours that Tejashwi would be replaced with Lalu's second daughter, Rohini Acharya, who lives in Singapore with her husband, as she is in Patna. "She has come on a holiday as the schools of her children are closed due to summer," a senior party leader said dismissing the rumours.

Party hopper

Congress MLC Dilip Choudhary visits 10 Circular Road every day amid the political crisis and is perhaps the last one to leave, after midnight. "We have asked him what is going on in 10 Circular Road. He always expresses ignorance," said a senior Congress leader, stressing that Dilip was always known for his closeness to the Lalu family. "Despite being the state vice-president of the Congress he was always talking about the well-being of Lalu and his family. He is known as an RJD leader in the Congress," the Congress leader added.

Still hopeful

As the war of words escalated, aspirants for posts in government boards and corporations still have not given up hope. When the JDU was holding a meeting on July 11 to discuss their stand on the CBI case against deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, a lady was outside the gate awaiting the end of the meeting. She asked a senior leader if the government was going to nominate political personalities in government bodies which gives them ministerial benefits. The JDU leader told her that this was not the right time to discuss such things as it was uncertain if the government will stay.