Brides & malls

Former chief minister and Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi's reported statement that she does not want bahus who go to malls had political circles going wild. "How can a family which is making the biggest mall in Bihar not want girls to go to malls," a BJP MLA quipped to his RJD friend even as the RJD leader insisted that Rabri meant she wanted traditional brides for her minister sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav.

One politician joked that one of the questions asked from fathers of aspiring brides is if their daughters go to malls and cinema halls. The jokes also reverberated in social media till Rabri clarified that she had been misquoted. A senior politician said, tongue firmly in cheek: "There have been numerous controversies over the proposed marriage of Tej and Tejashwi. The two brothers had a war of words with Sushil Kumar Modi. It's better if they get married off so that they can concentrate on their ministries."

Doctor worry

The report of senior doctors being posted at 10 Circular Road for over a week may have sparked a hue and cry from the Opposition, but for several RJD leaders it was worry time. "On his birthday, Lalu ji said that he was young at heart. But the news that three doctors were posted there for a week is worrisome for us. The doctors did not include a heart specialist; we all know that Laluji underwent a heart operation in Mumbai in 2015. Keeps us wondering how serious his illness is," said a senior RJD leader. Most RJD leaders still look on Lalu as their leader and are sceptical about Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav's ability to fill their father's shoes.

Yogi plan change

The sudden cancellation of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's scheduled visit to Patna has triggered rumours in political circles. Yogi was to arrive in Patna on June 16 to kick off a mega meeting. But he is now restricting his visit to Darbhanga. Some are attributing the change as another to "growing warmth" between Nitish and the BJP. "Yogi was expected to launch a frontal attack on his Bihar counterpart," said an RJD MLA in private conversation. "But the BJP has suddenly decided to withdraw."