Big Brother at work

The latest twist in the prohibition saga involves an official expressing concern over the rampant consumption of liquor at Bihar Bhavan in New Delhi. The official further suggested to his senior that CCTVs be installed to keep an eye on the people. The senior official remained unmoved but advised his junior to take his proposal to the chief minister. The senior also quipped that the official concerned should also ask the chief minister if CCTVs should be installed in the bedrooms of his ministers. The junior official should remember that Bihar Bhavan is located in Delhi where consumption of alcohol is not illegal, added the senior.

Un-guarded

RJD chief Lalu Prasad has always been soft on Union home minister Rajnath Singh and has seldom criticised him. Much to the astonishment of Lalu's supporters though, he targeted his beloved "Rajnath bhai" on Saturday. An RJD leader alleged that Laluji's ire has been caused by the possibility of his National Security Guard (NSG) detail being removed. No matter how many state government security men you have, it is the NSG personnel who add to the aura of a departure or an arrival at a venue, confided an RJD leader. After the removal of his NSG entourage, Lalu will be on par with former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who enjoys Z category security.

Contract invitation

Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan was asked by mediapersons if he will visit chief minister Nitish Kumar. The actor, who had come to "interview" RJD chief Lalu Prasad as part of the promotion for his film Madaari, declared he was willing to meet Nitish if invited. Nitish will only invite Irrfan if he declares his support for prohibition, confided an RJD leader. During the NDA days when Nitish's relationship with filmmaker Prakash Jha was "comfortable", Nitish did meet a few actors such as Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif. A BJP leader has suggested that Bollywood stars are more comfortable with Lalu as he is a natural actor.

Sycophant union

Lalu Prasad has dubbed all Union ministers as sycophants of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP leaders were quick to point out that no ministers in allegiance to either Nitish or Lalu are revolutionaries either. They frequently sing praise for their leaders. A BJP leader retorted that sycophancy is necessary at both the Centre and the state level, and that Laluji must be aware of it.

Fall guy

Lalu Prasad's recent statement that Prime Minister Modi should replace Ram Vilas Paswan with former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in the Union cabinet has irked LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan. "Why does Lalu ji not get finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui made the deputy chief minister of the state?" Paswan retorted even as Manjhi declared he would never become Union minister by replacing his "elder brother" Paswan. This is not the first time Paswan has used Siddiqui's name to combat Lalu. After the February 2005 Assembly polls, which resulted in a hung House, UPA leaders tried to get Paswan to support Rabri Devi as the alliance's chosen chief minister. Paswan stalled the move by declaring that he would only support the RJD in government formation if they made Siddiqui the chief minister. Siddiqui always comes in handy for Paswan, quipped an RJD leader.