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| The welcome gate near Kotwali police station with prominent display to Shyam Rajak (middle) and Chotu Singh (bottom). Picture by Deepak Kumar |
Patna, Nov. 1: The faces are much the same, only the brand has changed.
The myriad posters and banners put by loyalists of the Janata Dal (United) to announce Sunday’s Bihar Adhikar Rally have pictures of politicians — big, small and insignificant — who now pledge allegiance to Nitish Kumar. Barely a decade ago, in 2003, pictures of many of these politicians stared out of the banners in support of Lalu Prasad’s much-hyped Lathi Rally.
These are Bihar’s home-grown band of “Aaya Rams Gaya Rams” — politicians who switch sides depending on the fortunes of parties, epitomised by Haryana’s Gaya Lal who gave rise to the term by changing outfits thrice in one day back in 1967.
The leaders are everywhere in the city and have turned Patna green with their posters, banners, hoardings and flags. Among those prominent in both regimes are food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak and state JD(U) general secretary Chotu Singh. They share space with the chief minister and other top leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP RCP Singh and JD(U)’s state unit president Bashishtha Narayan Singh.
Posters displaying Rajak and Chotu Singh are on display near the Income tax roundabout, a spot they shared during Lalu’s time.
Rajak was not available for comment but MLC Sanjay Singh, formerly with the LJP, said it’s their right to change parties. Singh is also prominent on several posters and banners around the city these days.
Asked about the difference between the LJP and his current party, Sanjay Singh said: “The JD(U) is a big party and anybody would like to associate with it. The governance is good, our leaders are far-sighted and benevolent — what more do you need from your leader. Earlier, things were different but difference between the parties is not an issue.
“It is a democracy and people have the right to change parties. It is not a big issue. As far as the posters and banners are concerned, it is a normal practice. It sends a very good message to others that we are not living in the era of Lalu or Paswan who were self-centric people,” he added.
Chotu Singh almost sang the same tune as Sanjay Singh.
“Being a hard-working member of the party, I am just doing my job to make the Adhikar Rally successful. I have made sure that enough posters and banners are displayed so our leaders should feel that I am contributing to the party.”
Not only has Chotu put up the toran dwar (welcome gate) near Kotwali police station (Shyam Rajak too smiles from it), he promises to bring 15,000 people for the rally and a Punjabi band.
He said: “If am doing this, it means I am expecting something from my leader (Nitish) and he is the one who is seeing the performance of all other leaders. I have put up the big toran dwar near Kotwali police station sending the message of communal harmony.”
He added: “It is not a matter of embarrassment that I was in the RJD earlier and now in the JD(U). Such things happen all the time.”
If you think the likes of Rajak, Singh and Chotu are the only ones greeting you over the city, think again.
Unknown names such as Aman Singh Chauhan, Prabhat Kumar Munna, Ritesh Ranjan Singh, Ranjan Kumar and Patel Kumar are in the race to become leaders. Hardly known figures, they have taken Sunday’s rally as an opportunity to put up small banners and posters.
Forget you and I, even the party leaders do not know them.
