Laloo Prasad Yadav, the Rashtriya Janta Dal RJD chief, is a flustered man these days. He snaps at people easily, including his family members, and is prone to losing his temper. He keeps the media at arm’s length, shuns journalists accusing them of “deliberately killing my (his) time.”
Laloo Yadav is desperate to regain lost ground, Not only does he have to prove that RJD is still in the reckoning by improving its tally from the dismal four seats last time, 2009; he is also keen to establish himself as the “leader” of the secular forces in Bihar in the face of a resurgent BJP, leaving his rival Nitish Kumar far behind. More importantly, this election is a “prestige issue” for Laloo Yadav, with high stakes in family buroughs of Pataliputra and Saran; Laloo has to ensure that Misa Bharti ,his daughter defeats his former close aide Ram Kirpal of the BJP in Pataliputra. Not being able to contest himself after being convicted in the fodder scam, Laloo’s political future is at stake in 2014.
In his hey day, Laloo Yadav’s courting of the media was legendary; he reveled in his rustic image milking his cows and holding forth with the press at his home in Patna clad in a “lungi and banian.”
The RJD chief these days is running short of time. Micromanaging the RJD campaign single handedly, he keeps Misa and her husband Shailesh who accompanies Misa to most venues on a tight leash. At the Circular Road residence, he is angry at the two for taking so long to set out for the election campaign. “How long does it take to get ready, “ he questions, as party workers and supporters steer clear of angry RJD chief. Even Rabri Devi, his wife who is contesting his seat in Chaapra/ Saran is directed not to waste time speaking to the media.
With over 40 constituencies to campaign, as the party’s sole star campaigner, Laloo has taken to using a helicopter to hop from one rally venue to another.
He is using all his resources to ensure that that his gamble in preferring family over party loyalities, fielding daughter Misa Bharti and shunning his decades old colleague Ram Kirpal Yadav pays off.
Addressing more jansabhas here than in other constituencies, Laloo appeals to the audience in his inimitable style. In Danapur assembly segment, Laloo urges voters to vote for “Rabri and Laloo ki beti.” For the RJD patriarch, these are difficult days.
As his rival Nitish Kumar points out at another election rally, “Laloo ji is so desperate to win that he has started courting criminals,” indicating to Laloo’s meeting with a political leader booked on criminal charges to help ease out a Misa victory.
Laloo say political observers, is “buoyant” with ground reports of his Muslim Yadav combine reviving and several minority groups that had gravitated to other parties returning under the lantern symbol. This is being largely attributed to the secular versus communal fight signaled through the UPA ie Congress and RJD alliance pitted against the BJP with its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
For Laloo Yadav, he must win this battle at all costs albeit through proxy candidates ie wife and daughter if he has to continue his politics in New Delhi. RJD’s fate in the Assembly elections next year, is also pegged on its performance in these polls. In all Laloo Yadav has a lot on his plate now.
