A mid speculation over chief minister Nitish Kumar getting closer to the Congress, a senior RJD leader claimed that national vice-president of the grand old party of India met RJD chief Lalu Prasad at Parliament’s Central Hall for an hour. Contrary to the popular perception that Rahul was against any further alliance with the RJD, he told Laluji that he had nothing against the RJD,” said the senior RJD leader, stressing that it was a good sign for the party. Ever since the alliance of the RJD with the Congress broke down in 2009, Lalu repeatedly admitted that it was a mistake and was willing to do anything to “undo” it. Of late, the RJD camp was jittery over the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre becoming generous towards Nitish and the strained relationship between the BJP and the JD(U). “Against this backdrop, Lalu’s meeting with Rahul comes as a welcome sign. Congress leaders, including Shakeel Ahmad, new state party chief Ashok Choudhary and the Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, are in favour of realigning with the RJD,” he said. Afraid to take his name till recently, several state BJP leaders are now flaunting their proximity to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in public. “Even while expressing a diverse view on replicating the Gujarat model in Bihar, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi kept addressing the Gujarat chief minister as Narendrabhai,” said a BJP leader, recalling how the deputy chief minister boasted about his 35-year-old association with Modi. “With Modi poised to become the prime ministerial candidate of the party, everybody would like to flaunt their association with him,” he added. Most NDA leaders seem to have given up on the alliance between the JD(U) and the BJP, at least mentally. Their frustration is showing. After inaugurating a handloom exhibition in Patna recently, industries minister Renu Kumari was shown a number of saffron clothes and bed-sheets. “Why are you just showing me the BJP colour? Show me some other shades,” she said. She was immediately shown clothes of other colours. “The minister was visibly happy when she saw a green bed-sheet,” recalled a bystander. Green is the colour of the JD(U). “It appears saffron and green no longer gel well,” he added. The excise department gave airbags to legislators in the recently concluded Assembly session. “Are there scotch bottles inside?” asked a minister. Assembly officials said the minister’s expectation was not wrong. “The agriculture department gifted jaggery and a package consisting of pickles, tomato sauce and other items as gifts to legislators. So one can expect liquor from the excise department,” said an official of the Assembly secretariat, recalling that late Congress leader Rajo Singh had first asked the officials to give their department reports and documents in folders. “The folders have transformed into expensive suitcases and other items,” he added.
Monday, 14 July 2025
