UP result spoils Holi

The UP poll outcome turned several JD(U) leaders’ Holi colourless because the results started trickling in just before the Holi Milan function of the party at its state headquarters. I was told not to play Holi with enthusiasm. We have not won a single seat and our party chief is not a very happy man,” said a JD(U) office-bearer. To make things worse, several JD(U) leaders were asked to find out the votes polled by the party’s candidates at the constituencies they had visited. “Quite a few JD(U) leaders were asked to camp in UP during the polls and help the official candidate of the party. Rajya Sabha MP R.C. Prasad, who was an UP cadre IAS, camped there. When the party leaders who had gone to UP found that they had very little to report about, the festival of colours lost its sheen,” said another party leader, stressing that it was wrong to fight in so many seats. “As far as UP is concerned, we are on a par with the LJP,” he added.

Focus on Samdhiji

The focus of the RJD leaders and MLAs in UP was on the fate of Samdhiji (close kin). “We had nothing at stake since we had not fought polls in UP. Our job was confined to giving moral support to Samajwadi Party and our interest was in Samdhiji,” said an RJD MLA. The Samdhiji is Jitendra Yadav - a former Samajwadi Party MLA who contested from Sikandarabad seat on Congress ticket. His son Rahul recently married Lalu Prasad’s daughter Ragini. The RJD leaders later said Samdhiji was leading initially, but he ultimately lost. “Perhaps Samdhiji should have stuck to Samajwadi Party because we were supporting it,” said another party MLA.

Posers on position

Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey is facing a tough time in convincing legislators that he is in charge of his department. When a senior Congress leader asked about the status of introducing postgraduation courses at Bhagalpur Medical College, Choubey replied that the courses would be started this year. The Congress MLA said he knew that Choubeyji would like to do many things. “But everybody doubts if anyone in his department listens to him,” he added. The minister assured the Congress MLA that he was not at the “mercy of anyone”. A few days later, he was confronted with the same question. This time, a reporter told him: “Your officials say that they do not have any idea about the suspension of four civil surgeons you announced.” Choubey again stressed that he was the minister and could do anything in his department. “One hopes that the reports about his uneasy relationship with his officials are not true,” said a BJP MLA.

Poor suitcase shower

Several departments are gifting baggage to legislators while presenting budget. The health and water resources departments presented a suitcase to each legislator. “But their quality is very poor. It’s the time of sleek luggage. But we have been given suitcases which are outdated,” said a seasoned MLA, insisting that the quality of gifted baggage should be lifted.