Lalu set to get fresh term as RJD chief

RJD chief Lalu Prasad is likely to be elected unanimously as the national president of the party, for a fresh term of three years, during the organisatonal polls, starting mid-December. Anirban Guha Roy reports.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad is likely to be elected unanimously as the national president of the party, for a fresh term of three years, during the organisatonal polls, starting mid-December.

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"Where is the question of electing somebody else as national president of the party? It is obvious, Prasad will be getting a fresh term," said a senior leader in the party, seeking anonymity. Lalu was first elected as the national president of the party soon after its formation in 1997 following a split in the erstwhile Janata Dal. Since 1997, he has been elected to the post unopposed in the organisational polls.

However, a section of party workers and senior leaders have in the past raised questions on Prasad's long tenure as RJD president, but to no avail owing to his formidable clout within the party folds. "We do not have any other choice, as the regional outfit revolves around the charisma of the erstwhile strongman of Bihar," said another leader.

Political observers say, this is the case with most of the parties run by regional satraps, who generally have a weak democratic set up in their organisations and manage to hold sway by putting their close confidants on key posts.

Party sources said the incumbents to the post of president of state units, members of the national working committee and national council of the party would be elected in the polls scheduled to be held from January 2 to January 7, 2013. Prior to that, election to fill up posts of office bearers at the primary and block level units would be held.

The party would hold a meeting of its national council and have an open convention in Patna on January 20, 2012. Senior leader of the party and MP Jagdanand Singh has been appointed as the national election officer to supervise the organisational polls.