Nitish strikes at unexpected time

The JD (U)’s action against its dissident leaders, including Lallan Singh, Mangani Lal Mandal, Monajir Hasan and Upendra Kushwaha, came at a time when it was least expected. With the onset of the budget session, several rebel leaders thought the storm had blown over. But they were proved wrong big time.This is typical of Nitish Kumar. When he strikes against his adversaries, he does not let them know,” said a senior JD (U) leader. During the past two months Nitish refused to speak on the issue in public. When reporters him asked about the action against the dissidents, Nitish said he was concerned only with the government and not the party. This is in complete contrast with his bade bhai (elder brother) Lalu Prasad, old timers recalled. Almost a decade ago, Lalu had announced the expulsion of his friend-turned-foe Ranjana Prasad Yadav just before the national meet of the party in Patna.

Act when in power

When the JD (U) MLA, Hari Narayan Singh, sought upgradation of a middle school to secondary school at his constituency — Harnaut in Nalanda district, he faced an embarrassing question. “Why you did not do it when you were the minister?” asked an MLA, reminding Singh he was the human resource department minister till the Assembly polls last year. Singh remained silent. “It reflects the difference between the power one wields as a minister and as a legislator. Even RJD chief Lalu Prasad keeps complaining that railway officials do not even respond to his calls after he ceased to be the railway minister. Officials of the department do not even recognise you when you are out of the ministry,” said a JD (U) inister.

War of words

Power minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, who also holds the parliamentary affairs portfolio, and the Leader of the Opposition, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, are the new entertainers of the House. They are never tired of taking digs and counter-digs at each other. When Siddiqui was demanding a reply from another minister, Yadav intervened and said Siddiqui was “mindless” and did not know how a minister is supposed to give his reply. “I do not know how a mindless man like Yadav was made the in-charge of the parliamentary affairs,” Siddiqui replied. “I made him the minister of parliamentary affairs on your advice,” said chief minister Nitish Kumar jokingly.

Healthy legislator

The BJP MLA, Renu Devi, often finds herself at the receiving end of pranks because of her stoutness. When MLAs were discussing the significance of the International Women’s Day, one of the legislators said Renu was enough to represent all the 34 women MLAs in the House. She took the remark sportingly. When Renu was the state’s minister for art, culture and sports, some BJP leaders used to say the state had a healthy sports minister. Some of her party leaders even remarked Renu should represent Bihar in 100m run.