Patna: Lalu Prasad's daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai, did not attend the RJD's foundation day programme here on Thursday, but her presence was "felt" by leaders and supporters alike.
"The media do not say anything about the problems farmers face, but they are discussing if bhabhi will enter politics or not due to her photo appearing in posters," leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav quipped during his speech.
It was, however, not just journalists who were debating whether the new bahu in the RJD first family should enter politics.
"It is wrong; will bride and groom both contest polls?" asked Shivalaya Yadav, who had come from Nawada, over 115km from Patna, to attend the RJD event. Another RJD supporter, Jeewas Yadav from just-as-faraway Rosera, differed. "If she enters politics it will be in the interest of the country," he remarked.
Yet another RJD supporter and advocate in Patna, Salfaraz Alam, declared that there was nothing wrong in Aishwarya joining politics if she is interested. "After all she has a political background," he said.
Senior RJD leaders point to a pattern in poster appearances of Lalu's kin.
The RJD chief's brothers-in-law Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav were omnipresent in party posters and banners in the early 1990s. The family denied they would be given tickets, but Sadhu was made an MLA and Subhash an MLC. Later, Sadhu was given a Lok Sabha ticket and Subhash a Rajya Sabha ticket.
When Lalu's sons Tej Prarap Yadav and Tejashwi were in their teens, party events were preceded by hoardings declaring them "Yuva Samrat" (young kings).
"Even then Lalu declared that his sons were not aspiring to join politics. But in 2015 he not only got them into the Assembly but ensured that they got multiple portfolios," remarked a senior RJD leader.
Other senior RJD leaders resent how Lalu ignored the claims of a close associate, Ram Kripal Yadav, to give a ticket to daughter Misa Bharti from the Patliputra Lok Sabha seat in 2014. "We lost a good political worker like Ram Kripal as he was forced to join BJP. For Laluji family comes first. The older generation of leaders are uncomfortable, but they have no option but to stay in the RJD," admitted a party veteran.
The political lineage of Aishwarya -granddaughter of former chief minister the late Daroga Prasad Rai and daughter of five-time MLA Chandrika Rai - is as strong as her husband's. Close associates of Aishwarya, however, claim she has shown no interest in politics so far. "But it is up to Lalu Prasad to decide," remarked the RJD veteran.
