Close alliance vigil on Paswan

Former Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan’s movement is being closely scrutinised these days.

A photograph of the JD(U) MP, Anwar Ali, and Paswan sharing dahi-chura (curd-flattened rice) sent the RJD camp into a tizzy. On Tuesday, the party had another shock over rumour on the presence of Paswan in the party thrown by the JD(U) on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. There was a visible relief among the party activists when an RJD leader said: “Only former RJD MP Anil Kumar had joined the party. Paswan was not there.” The probable alliance between the Congress, RJD and the LJP is turning out to be a battle of nerves of sorts. There was a rumour that the JD(U) had offered a ministerial berth to Paswan’s brother and a Rajya Sabha seat to another sibling if the LJP got into an alliance with it. “The LJP appears to enjoy keeping us on a leash. The joke of the entire episode is that the Congress is enjoying the show and is likely to call the shots when the alliance is finally formed,” said an RJD leader.

Lalu U-turn on Ramdev

Baba Ramdev’s advice to RJD chief Lalu Prasad to help Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister appears to have been received coldly by the RJD chief. “Never consume the medicine made by Ramdev,” Lalu, once a great fan of the yoga specialist, said. When CPM leader Brinda Karat alleged that animal bones were being used in medicines manufactured by Ramdev’s companies, Lalu had strongly defended the yoga practitioner. “The fact that Ramdev belongs to his caste had enthused Lalu. But he has turned a BJP supporter now,” said an RJD leader.

Old habits die hard

The RJD MP, Ram Kripal Yadav, asked the party leaders not to touch the feet of either Lalu Prasad or his while addressing them at the Makar Sankranti feast held at 10 Circular Road. “The culture of touching feet has been discontinued in our party,” he said. But at least six leaders touched his feet when he mingled with the crowd after the speech. “Some practices, like touching feet of leaders, would never stop. Laluji has forbidden RJD leaders to crowd around him for tickets. But aspiring candidates will come to 10 Circular Road with their supporters during the allocation of tickets,” said an RJD leader.

Anything to please prisoners

The RJD chief, Lalu Prasad, appears to have fond memories of the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi. He recalled the herbal plants in the clean prison and his supporters from Bihar visiting him with delicious dishes. “I distributed a large portion of those food to the inmates. They were so happy that they told me that they would miss me once I was released. I told them that if the RJD came to power in Jharkhand, I would waive off five years from their sentence,” he said.