Nitish makes a power point

PowerPoint presentations are almost mandatory during chief minister's review meetings. However, during the recent review meeting of law and order in the state, Nitish Kumar was less than enthusiastic about watching any presentation. "We have already seen the power presentation by criminals in Darbhanga," he remarked before crestfallen police officials.

"The CM was upset and it is understandable given the attack and taunts flung on him about the return of jungle raj," remarked a senior police officer, stressing that the chief minister was more interested in discussing the crime situation. "Presentations always present a rosy picture of the department full of fudged figures and facts," said an administrative official. "The CM appeared quite aware of the ground realties in this case."

Adviser Lalu

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's lecture on increased crime to Nitish Kumar hardly surprises those close to him. They recall that Lalu used to advise Nitish even when they were political adversaries. "When Nitish was in NDA and there was a UPA government at the Centre, he (Nitish) complained that his phone was being tapped. Laluji advised him to speak on the phone through coded language," recalled a senior RJD leader, stressing that Lalu's tips to Nitish Kumar should be taken in the "right spirit".

"Even after the Gujarat riots of 2002 Laluji talked to a few Bihari IAS and IPS officials on phone and was telling them how he would have controlled the violence had he been in charge," the leader added.

Motive mantra

It's not only Lalu Prasad who has flagged the law and order situation. Sadanand Singh, leader of the Congress in the Assembly, also expressed "grave concern" over the lawlessness in Bihar. He, however, tried to ease the blow by declaring that the CM is "trying to control crime". Congress leaders seemed amused. "Sadanand babu's statement should not be taken as anti-Nitish," said a senior Congress leader. "It is basically anti-Ashok Kumar Choudhary, the state party president and education minister. Sadanand babu still has a grudge that he has been left out of the ministry at the behest of Choudhary."

Old scars

Lalu appears to have opened old wounds at the police headquarters when - while speaking about having the right people manning the right posts - he alluded to Nitish Kumar's making Abhayanand the DGP in the last term. Senior police officers recalled the former DGP diktat to use the camera instead of batons and guns to control mobs. "I went to a national meet of police officers and several people asked me if IPS in Bihar means Indian Photo Service," quipped a senior police officer.