Not a very happy start for state Cong president

Newly-appointed Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary seems to have started his innings in a controversial manner, with state minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP on Monday alleging he was involved in former Congress MP Rajo Singh’s murder in 2005.

But unlike the past, when mudslinging among rival factions in the Bihar Congress was common, local party leaders were reluctant to speak out against their new chief.

Even contenders for the party chief’s post and compulsive dissenters chose to maintain a discreet silence, perhaps keeping in mind that Choudhary’s appointment on Sunday had Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s approval, sources said.

“Had it not been for the AICC vice-president’s backing, a section of Congressmen would have started mudslinging campaign,” said a party leader.

But Choudhary was unfazed. “Anybody’s name can be included in an FIR. But as things stand on date, my name does not appear in the charge sheet (in the Rajo Singh murder case),” he said.