Power cuts embarrassment for state government

French ambassador Francois Richier was talking to mediapersons at an upscale hotel and praising the improved power supply in Bihar. But even as he spoke there were power cuts twice. ower, remarked a senior politician, can betray and let one down just when one needs it. He recalled an earlier occasion when a former power minister in the RJD regime, late Shakeel Ahmad Khan, was giving an account of steps he had taken to improve the power scene in Bihar inside the Bihar Assembly. Just at that moment there was a power cut and the House plunged into pitched darkness. It triggered off jeers and catcalls from opposition benches. “Khan tried to retrieve the situation by shouting ‘sabotage’,” the elderly politician recalled, stressing that even power at the state and Centre can be treacherous, and one could never know when he or she would be out of it.

Fading memory

There use to be a time when former Union minister Lalu Prasad would be the centre of attraction for any foreign diplomat or dignitary visiting Bihar. They would always land up at 1 Aney Marg and be given a tour of the premises where Lalu kept his cows and horses. However, Lalu appears to be fading away in the memory of foreign diplomats and dignitaries. French ambassador Francois Richier knew well the names of only two Bihari politicians - chief minister Nitish Kumar and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi. Asked about Lalu Prasad, he conceded he knew just that Lalu was a former chief minister of Bihar. Diplomats are the first to forget when one is out of power, declared a former RJD legislator.

Mosquito menace

During the chief minister’s last janata durbar, mosquito coils were put underneath his table. It ensured mosquitoes did not disturb Nitish Kumar while he looked at petitions given to him by numerous complainants . It gave one onlooker a sadistic delight. “Residents of Patna have been raising a hue and cry over mosquito menace and dengue hitting the state capital. The government declared it would use fogging machines. But I never saw one being used in my mohalla. Now, the mosquitoes have reached 1 Aney Marg,” he remarked in a serves-you-right manner

Unstoppable Ramai

Land revenue minister Ramai Ram appears to be in the grips of election fever. At the last janata durbar he was not at his table for most of the time. He was sitting with media persons and stressing he would contest the next Lok Sabha polls from Hajipur “at any cost”. As amused JD(U) ministers looked on, he remarked loudly: “I have told the chief minister that I would fight polls at any cost. Nobody can stop me.” Ram has contested Lok Sabha polls before but has never won one despite being an MLA for over 30 years. “There is talk that some ministers selected to fight Lok Sabha polls may be dropped from the ministry to concentrate on their constituency. Ram may find himself out of the ministry,” remarked a JD(U) MLA. Many are happy at the prospect of Ram being out of the ministry, as he has not heeded to MLAs’ recommendations when posting block-level officials.