The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi has turned into a hive of political activities.
With RJD chief Lalu Prasad, convicted in fodder scam cases, admitted there for treatment of various ailments, the grand alliance party leaders are making a beeline for the hospital to finalise the allocation of seats.
Prasad is meeting alliance leaders regularly and is said to be giving the final touches to the list of candidates.
Sinha rebels
Rebel BJP MP from Patna Shatrughan Sinha, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay met Prasad on Saturday. They came out saying they had gone to meet Prasad to enquire about his “well-being” but sources close to these leaders told The Hindu that they met the RJD chief to discuss the list of candidates in both Bihar and Jharkhand for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Bihar has 40 and Jharkhand 14 Lok Sabha seats.
Mr. Sinha, who looks certain to be dropped from the BJP, is likely to be a grand alliance candidate from the Patna Sahib constituency. He said, “Location [of the constituency] will be the same, even if the situation changes.”
He praised the RJD chief and his younger son Tejashwi Yadav. “Laluji is my friend and Tejashwi is a very good and talented boy… I believe he is the face of Bihar and its future,” Mr. Sinha said.
The leaders, however, denied that any political discussions had taken place with Prasad as it is the inauspicious month of Kharmas.
Earlier, rebel JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and Uday Narayan Choudhury too had visited Prasad in hospital and, as sources said, they discussed seat-sharing.
Recently, Prasad was seen taking a stroll in the corridors of the hospital.
Dr. D.K. Jha told journalists that his condition had “improved.”