Rahul averts coup in Bihar unit

Unlike in the past, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi acted fast and averted a coup in the party's Bihar unit by none else but his own appointee state party chief Ashok Chowdhary who is to be axed any time soon after a new state party set-up is finalised. Rahul summoned the party MLAs to Delhi in two groups on Wednesday and Thursday to interact with them, the second group being those who were to go with Chowdhary to split the party.

Those in Chowdhary's group tried to justify his demand for the Congress to disassociate with the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Lalu Prasad to save the party's image, but sources said they got solid snub from Rahul as he saw in it an attempt to go with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar despite his coalition with the BJP.

Even AICC general secretary C P Joshi, who always backed Chowdhary in every controversy in Bihar, sensed Rahul's mind and joined the party MLAs to suggest his removal from the post. Sources said Rahul has decided to remove Chowdhary as the Bihar PCC chief for attempt to plot a split in the legislature party.

The MLAs in rebel camp tried to plead that they were carried away by Chowdhary because of lack of access to him or Sonia, nor did they have the guidance of Dr Joshi or any other senior leader. Rahul assured them that the party high command values them and this will not happen in future that they do not get a proper hearing.

Indications are that Rahul will remove Dr Joshi also as the in-charge general secretary for not keeping him abreast with the developments in Patna.