Law Kumar Mishra

Patna: Though deep cracks are not visible between JD(U) chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, stern warning given after a crucial meeting of senior JD(U) leaders last month to Lalu for his failure to restrain now jailed party vice-president Mohammad Shahbuddin and another vice president and former union minister Raghuwansh Prasad Singh had its effect on the easily available for bytes, Lalu, who is maintaining mysterious silence for more than a fortnight.

Lalu was asked by the two senior cabinet colleagues of Nitish Kumar: Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh to ask his leaders not to cross “Lakshman rekha” and asked him to follow the Gathbandhan Dharma. The stern statement was issued after the senior JD (U) leaders held a meeting at CM’s residence on September 14, our days after release of Shahabuddin on bail.

Shahabuddin had given interviews to newspapers and news channels describing Nitish as `CM of circumstances’ and declaring Lalu was the natural leader of Bihar. After his bail was cancelled by Supreme Court last week, Shahbuddin reiterated his comments against CM and warned his supporters will teach Nitish a lesson in the next elections.

Initial reaction of Lalu on comments of Shahabuddin was”Did he commit anything wrong by calling me leader”? Since then he is silent.

Ashok Chaudhury, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president and education minister in Nitish Kumar government, too had issued a statement on instructions of Rahul Gandhi asking the RJD president that he was at liberty to leave the grand alliance. “No one is preventing him, “Chaudhury had said.

While Lalu is keeping mum, R JD workers are agitating daily against Bihar government at different places in the state including home town of Shahabuddin, Siwan, alleging Bihar government action of filing an appeal in Supreme Court challenging Shahabuddin’s release on bail led to his re-imprisonment. They were on dharna at different places including Kargil Chauk, Patna. They were led by RJD MLAs. The JD(U) had suspended one of its Yadav MLAs who had gone to receive Shahabuddin when he was released from  Bhagalpur jail on Septembr 10, 2016. No action has been taken by RJD leadership to match JD(U) action.

CM Nitish Kumar, who was being attacked by Shahabuddin and his men, replied at a function at S K Memorial Hall here “No Don will be allowed to move free in my regime. They would be sent to jail.” .Bihar government lawyer at SC was changed in last minute on the instructions of Nitish and the new lawyer exposed Shahabuddin before the Apex court alleging the former MP used to operate from jail also.

Lalu with 80 MLAs in the 243 Bihar assembly is lying low following adverse public opinion against him. Nitish, who used to consult him till recently, has stopped visiting him at his 10, Circular Road residence, to consult him on administrative matters. Lalu’s suggestion to post an IAS officer of his choice as Patna district magistrate was not honoured by the CM. Incidentally, the said IAS officer is DM in one of the central Bihar districts and happens to be his casteman. Lalu was able to get an IAS officer shifted out of Patna within three months of his joining as he did not listen to his advice. This was the initial days of GA government.

Lalu had  allegedly telephoned the vice-chancellor of a premier university  and asked him not to harass a professor who was close to him. When the VC tried to reason with him, Lalu is reportedly rebuked him by saying “Do you know  whom you  are talking to.” He wanted to send a message about his dominant position in the government. That was about  few months back.

Lalu’s two sons: -Tejeshwi and Tej Pratap, control 18 departments between them. Home and Law departments are with the CM and JD(U) ministers. They too are keeping silence on the developments in the state.

Lalu felt hurt when accusations were made against him that Rajballabh Yadav ,an RJD MLA from Nawda was in jail for six months on charges of raping a minor girl, was described as his(Lalu) financer . Rajballabh was granted bail by Patna High Court last week but the state government immediately moved the  Supreme Court seeking cancellation of his bail. Lalu is understood to have told some of his closest aides ” Nitish showed unnecessary urgency.” The grand alliance in Bihar has 67 Yadav MLAs who consider Lalu as his leader.

Nitish, on the other hand, is determined to salvage his image as the CM with commitment to good governance and is regularly talking that he would not compromise on good governance. He had come to power in 2005 on promise of getting Bihar rid of Jungle raj. Lalu has already expressed his displeasure over Nitish’s overzealous action on imposing prohibition and has warned this would lead to downfall of Nitish. The two grand leaders of the grand alliance are not even on talking terms for over  fortnight though Nitish announced he would work for continuation of the alliance.

 

11 thoughts on “Lalu’s low profile is intriguing”
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