by Alok Mohit
PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad is set to be re-elected unopposed president of the party he founded in 1997 for the record 12th time.
Prasad, a former Bihar chief minister, filed his nomination papers for the president’s post at the party office in New Delhi on Wednesday. Party’s Bihar unit president Jagadanand Singh and Prasad’s eldest daughter and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti were present when he submitted his papers.
Returning officer for the RJD organisational election Uday Narayan Choudhary said only Prasad had filed the nomination for the post of the party president. “After conducting scrutiny, Prasad’s papers were found in order. The time for withdrawal of nomination papers was fixed for 3pm to 4pm on Wednesday and Prasad did not withdraw his papers,” Choudhary said.
A formal announcement of his election as RJD chief will be made on October 10 at party’s national convention in New Delhi.
Prasad’s decision to file nomination papers has put to rest speculations about his son and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav taking over as RJD chief for now.
RSS should have been banned first: Lalu
Prasad demanded a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh after the Union government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and many of its associates, under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Terming RSS a “Hindu extremist organisation,” Prasad said it deserved to be banned first.
He took to Twitter and wrote, “Like PFI, there should be a ban on all organisations, including RSS, spreading hatred. First of all, ban RSS. It is a worse organisation than that. RSS had been banned twice earlier. Remember, RSS was first banned by Iron Man Sardar Patel.”
