Lalu flouting rules, has set up court in prison hospital: Jharkhand BJP

Taking to Facebook, Shahdeo posted a photo of Lalu Yadav alleging that the latter was"openly violating the jail manual"\

Current Affair: Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo on Sunday alleged that veteran RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav who is currently lodged at RIMS Hospital in Ranchi is violating the jail manual by setting up a 'darbar' there.

Taking to Facebook, Shahdeo posted a photo of Lalu Yadav alleging that the latter was"openly violating the jail manual". "Openly violating Jail Manual. The darbar of former (Bihar) Chief Minister Lalu Prasad has been adorned even during the Corona period. The excuse - he had to see the Health Minister Banna Gupta ji. He is also talking on mobile. Take action Honorable Chief Minister." Shahdeo captioned the post in Hindi.

The photograph also shows State health minister. Lalu Prasad has been convicted in four fodder scam cases and was awarded up to 14 years of imprisonment. Imprisoned for corruption in Jharkhand, he has spent a large part of his sentence undergoing treatment at the RIMS...

Will he, won’t he? Congress in a fix over Rahul Gandhi’s resignation

Party considers appointing working president, even as allies try to dissuade Rahul from quitting

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday remained unmoved on his decision to resign from the post of party president. Rahul has asked the party leadership to replace him with a leader from a non-Gandhi family. Rahul had announced his decision to quit at the Congress Working Comm­ittee meeting on Saturday. Congress leaders have been hopeful that they can persuade Rahul to relent since he is yet to send a written resignation to the CWC. His Twitter bio also continues to state that he is the president of the Congress.

Several party leaders believe Rahul, by persisting with his decision, was becoming instrumental in further shrinking his as well as the Congress’ political capital, or whatever is left of it. Leaders of the Congress’ allies — like Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad — have said Rahul quitting as party chief would be “suicidal” for his party.

As for the several alternatives discussed within the party, including putting in place a praesidium of half a dozen leaders to run the party’s daily affairs or appointing a working president, party leaders have pointed out the Congress constitution would need an amendment for this. The only previous instance of the party getting a working president was when Kamalapati Tripathi, divested of his Railway portfolio, was appointed the working president.

Leaders have suggested that if Rahul quits, so should the rest of the CWC. A new president and CWC should be elected at a Congress plenary. On Tuesday, Rahul met Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot, separately. Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was present during the meetings. ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi insists on resigning, Congress considers panel to run party

The Congress is facing a minor crisis in Rajasthan with some party leaders blaming the party’s defeat in the state on the decision to appoint Gehlot and not Pilot as chief minister. Rahul is upset with Gehlot for campaigning for his son at the expense of the party.

Fodder scam: Court to announce Lalu Prasad's quantum of punishment today

On December 23, the RJD chief, along with 14 others, was found guilty by the court, while seven accused, including former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, were acquitted

The Ranchi Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court will now pronounce the quantum of sentence against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad in connection with fodder scam on Friday.

During the proceedings, the court said that Bihar vigilance Director General, Janata Dal (United) leader Jagdish Sharma and former Bihar Director General of Police D P Ojha are the main masterminds in the scam.

Earlier on January 3, the court deferred the matter due to the demise of advocate Vindeshwari Prasad.

The court also found Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav and other party leaders Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Manoj Jha guilty of contempt of court.

On December 23, the RJD chief, along with 14 others, was found guilty by the court, while seven accused, including former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, were acquitted.

Lalu has been convicted in one of the cases of the fodder scam, wherein Rs 9 billion from the Bihar exchequer was siphoned off under the pretext of purchasing fodder for livestock, during the '80s and '90s.