Patna,(BiharTimes): Strange things are happening in Janata Dal (United). First the media came up with the story that the party may support the candidature of former chief minister and RJD leader, Rabri Devi, for the Rajya Sabha by-poll as Lalu Prasad has declared unconditional support to the Jitan Ram Manjhi government. However, Lalu Prasad strongly denied the news and with this ended the story.
 
Than on Thursday news was flashed that former Union minister of HRD, M A A Fatmi, who quit the RJD only on Wednesday (June 4), is likely to be made the Rajya Sabha candidate of Janata Dal (United).
 
Than a day later on Friday news appeared in the national capital that none else but Dr Shakeel Ahmed of Congress is likely to be made the common candidate of the Congress and Janata Dal (United) as the two parties are coming closer. Dr Ahmed is likely to be rewarded for the role he played in Congress party’s decision to support first Nitish Kumar and then Jitan Ram Manjhi governments. He is also said to be in favour of an alliance with JD(U) for the Assembly elections in Bihar next year.
 
Unlike in the case of Rabri Devi and Fatmi this time it seems that the news is correct and Dr Shakeel Ahmed may finally end up becoming the common candidate. It is other thing how the rebellious JD(U) legislators accept this stand of the party.
 
The Janata Dal (United) general secretary, K C Tyagi’s statement on Friday that “Non-Congressism is dead for us now” gives credence to the growing closeness of the two parties.
 
Tyagi further said “What is the point in continuing with non-Congressism when Congress has no existence in dozens of states. Gone are the days of non-Congressism. These are the days for non-BJPism for us. We are ready to work with all non-BJP parties including Congress, Left and regional parties.”
 
But Tyagi on Friday was a bit evasive on the issue while replying to the specific question on Dr Ahmed being sent to Rajya Sabha. He said no such proposal has come from Congress till now. “If it comes, our leadership— Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav —will take a decision,” he told the media in New Delhi.