Patna, July 22: A sinking feeling is gripping the RJD. The party that ruled the state for 15 years is facing a wave of desertions. The latest in the list of deserters is Shakeel Ahmad Khan.

One of the most well-known flag-bearers of the Lalu-Rabri regime and noted lawyer of Patna High Court, Khan today announced his decision to quit the party. “I have been in this party for 18 years and I am leaving it with a heavy heart,” he said, alleging that the party had not heeded to his letter written five months ago demanding action against the leaders who sabotaged the prospect of the RJD’s official candidates in the elections.

Last-ditch efforts were made by the RJD leaders, including Lalu, to persuade Khan to not to quit. But he was determined to leave the party.

Khan said: “The RJD has become a party in which the loyalists are ignored and the betrayers are glorified,” he said.

He pointed out that when the RJD came into existence it was a regional party. “We were recognised as a national party by the Election Commission and later reduced to a regional party. I asked the leadership for introspection on why we were going back. The leadership never did it. Ever since the party lost in the Vikramganj parliamentary bypoll four years ago, we have been slipping. The party has not bothered to make its stand clear on corruption or price rise,” Khan said, stressing that his snapping ties with RJD was permanent.

Khan did not specify his political future but there is a speculation that he would join the JD(U) a week later.

RJD leaders were quick to dub Khan as Mir Jaffar. “Khan has backstabbed Lalu. The party made him an MLA, MLC and a minister. But as the party is out of power now, he is trying to get associated with the party in power,” said senior RJD leader Illiyas Hussain.

Leader of the Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui said: “Most of the leaders are deserting the party because it has lost power. We will not take back people like Khan.”

But several RJD leaders are not ready to buy the theory of “desertion for power”. “There is a sinking feeling within the party because of the strong social base created by chief minister Nitish Kumar. It is overwhelming and next to impossible for the RJD to break this social base. Despite the Forbesganj police firing and scams surfacing at a regular basis, it would be very difficult for the party to defeat Nitish in the near future,” an RJD MLA said.

He said the party had no answers for Nitish’s moves to woo the Muslims, Extremely Backward Castes and Mahadalits. Lalu’s long stay in Delhi has increased the depression, he added.

A senior RJD leader said: “Lalu once used to be surrounded by committed political leaders. Now, this crowd has shrunk drastically.”

In the recent past, former MLC Ram Vachan Rai, the man who the party relied on in writing political documents, left the party. He is now a JD(U) member.

Ever since the last Lok Sabha polls, the party has lost Shyam Rajak, Ramai Ram, Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Nagmani. Not only have Shyam Rajak and Ramai Ram joined the JD(U), they are also state government ministers.

Rajak is the food and consumer protection minister and Ram is revenue and land reforms minister.

Nagmani and Akhilesh have joined the Congress.

Umashankar Singh is an RJD MP technically ever since his archrival Prabhunath Singh was included in the party. MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav and former MLA Maheshwar Yadav have openly criticised Lalu for making statements against Ramdev.

One of its most prominent leaders and Rajya Sabha MP Jabir Hussain has remained “politically indifferent” ever since charges of corruption were levelled on him by Lalu’s brother-in law Subhash Yadav. Former Union minister MA Fatimi, on the other hand, cannot stand Siddiqui.