Now, Lalu seems least bothered

The RJD president brushed aside reports that he was interefering in the appointment of advisers in Bihar.

Brushing aside reports that he was interfering in the appointment of advisers to the Governor in Bihar, RJD president Lalu Prasad said he was "least bothered" about the issue.

"I have not raised the posting of advisers of my choice during my meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil," he said while angrily reacting to reports that he wanted nomination of bureaucrats of his choice.

"I do not care who are nominated as advisers to the Governor and it is for the Centre and Governor to decide," he said, adding "but at the same time I don't want that bureaucrats with a mental case taking over as advisers and issue shoot orders."

He was reacting to newspaper reports that four names were doing the rounds for the post of adviser to Governor. They are former Bihar chief secretaries Arun Pathak, VS Dubey, PP Srivastava, besides super cop KPS Gill.

Taking a dig at LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan whom he held responsible for imposition of President's rule, Lalu displayed a wall clock and said "this is the pendulum which oscillates here and there."

He also dubbed Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as a man "who winds a clock", he said.

"But one thing is sure that my 20-year contract with the people of Bihar has not been cancelled and some mistakes in the documents (contract papers) which led to our exit will be rectified soon and we will once again be in the saddle for the next twenty years," he said.

Praising Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the RJD leader accused some Congress leaders of "misleading" her and held them responsible for the present situation in Bihar.

Sharpening his attack on Paswan for "sheltering people having criminal antecedents", Lalu said let Paswan take care of law and order here. "His (Paswan's) goons are saying that they will take over the houses occupied by judges. They have been telling officers on phone that they will be reviewing the law and order situation in the state," he alleged.