Quip master Rabri Devi

BJP MLC Kiran Ghai got a surprise in the state Legislative Council, of which former chief minister Rabri Devi is a member.

Ghai, speaking in the House, was going on and on about the "unholy" alliance between Nitish and Lalu. She was looking at Rabri. Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh told Ghai that she should look at the chair while speaking and not towards Rabri. Ghai remarked that Rabri was like a bhabhi (sister-in law) to her. To peals of laughter, Rabri quipped that Ghai was like a nanad (husband's sister) who kept objecting to two brothers getting closer to each other, sending a peal of laughter. "We were unaware of Rabri's ability to give witty retorts," conceded another BJP MLC.

Samdhi & selfies

Recently, when Lalu Prasad turned up at the engagement ceremony of the daughter of a minister in Uttar Pradesh at a hotel, he found himself flooded by selfie requests. He reluctantly agreed but backed out declaring that he had to reach home to play host to his samdhi (relative), SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's brother, Shivpal Yadav.

Silent brother

In the Assembly session, while deputy chief minister Tejaswi fared well answering questions, his brother Tej Pratap still has to prove himself. He was not visible in the House after the initial two days. In the state Legislative Council, panic gripped the treasury bench when a question of Sushil Kumar Modi related to the health department came up and the House was informed that the health minister had "health problems" due to which he could not turn up in the House.Another minister replied to the much-amused BJP bench. "We have had Bima Bharti of the JDU who was a minister in the previous ministry, who never replied to any question as the treasury bench had to state that she was ill. Perhaps, Tej Pratap will follow her path," remarked a BJP MLC.

Unfaithful followers

Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi must now be realising how fickle political loyalties are. Some of the politicians he had relied as trusted aides have just vanished after the Assembly poll results. Shakuni Choudhary, who quit as state president of Manjhi's party HAMS, is never seen at his residence. Nor is former minister Narendra Singh, who claimed to be the Chanakya of Manjhi before the Assembly elections. Manjhi had ensured that Narendra's sons and Shakuni Choudhary and his son got NDA tickets. All of them lost. RJD men appear to know about their whereabouts. "I have seen both of them at Laluji's house. Perhaps they are trying to re-enter the RJD," remarked a party MLA.