Patna, May 13: The son factor has come into play in the run-up to the RJD’s Parivartan Rally, turning it into a slanging match between party chief Lalu Prasad and chief minister Nitish Kumar.
Lalu, who had remained silent for almost a week after Nitish’s dig that the rally was being organised for T2 (Lalu’s sons Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejaswi Yadav), who would replace S2 (Lalu’s alienated brothers-in-law Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav) in the RJD, finally hit back at his arch rival.
“They are my sons and have been raising the lantern — the RJD’s electoral symbol — ever since they gained consciousness. I want to ask Nitish where is his son? I will also hand a lantern to him. Does Nitish expect my sons to work for the arrow (JD-U’s symbol) or the lotus?” retorted Lalu angrily, accusing the chief minister of trying to dilute the main issue of his rally, “misrule during Nitish era”. He was equally angry over JD(U)’s charges that the RJD was indulging in extortion. “They should come with specific charges,” he said.
Although Lalu’s former-cricketer son Tejaswi campaigned in the 2010 Assembly election, RJD sources said he was considered “a very minor” player then. “However, in the run-up to the Parivartan Rally, most banners, posters and welcome gates have their portraits. The sons have been actively trying to drum up support for the May 15 rally. Till now, we looked at the two as children. But now, the two have grown in both size and stature,” said a former RJD minister. However, Lalu shot down a plan under which Tejaswi was supposed to arrive at Gandhi Maidan accompanied by his followers on two-wheelers.
Nitish appears to have touched a raw nerve of RJD leaders by mentioning Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav. When Lalu assumed power in 1990, the two were not even considered political entities. “Suddenly, during party rallies, we began to notice hoardings portraying Sadhu and Subhash as yuvao ke samrat (emperors of youths). Soon, the duo became powerful and was involved in all sorts of unlawful activities. Even ministers began fearing them. Lalu was forced to make them MLCs, then MLA and then MPs,” recalled a former RJD MP, hoping history would not repeat itself with T2.
Some RJD leaders feel it is time to rebuild the party and Lalu should have avoided thrusting his two sons on the party. “However, why should Lalu be singled out? It’s a nationwide phenomena,” said another RJD leader.
The Parivartan Rally’s success is important for Lalu. “Nobody doubts Laluji’s ability to pull a huge crowd at Gandhi Maidan and launch a frontal attack on the Nitish government with his oratory and wit. The only thing of interest is the role T2 plays in the rally and after it,” said a senior RJD leader.
“It will be the beginning of the end of Nitish raj (rule),” said the RJD chief.
