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Dissidents in the Rashtriya Janata Dal on Friday received a boost with the Congress, a partner in Bihar's ruling coalition, saying it may support an alternative government in the event of the fall of the Rabri Devi government after a split in the dominant partner.
The BPCC president and state's medical education minister, Shakeel Ahmed, told PTI that his party did not favour a mid-term poll in Bihar, and, therefore, would support an alternative secular government which does not have any direct or indirect backing of the BJP.
He, however, said the leader of the dissident group, Ranjan Yadav, did not appear intent on an open fight with the RJD president, Laloo Yadav, and Chief Minister Rabri Devi.
"The dissident activity so far has been going on behind the scenes and this cannot go on for long," Ahmed said, admitting that a political uncertainty was continuing in the state. The sooner it ends, the better it is for the RJD.
Ahmed admitted that the Congress's alliance with the RJD was the consequence of his party's political compulsions as it wanted to prevent the "communal forces" from coming to power in the state.
"Our political ideologies are diametrically opposite, but we have joined hands with RJD only to prevent the BJP, which we consider a bigger evil, from coming to power."
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