Nitish-Lalu reunion after 23 years a ’flop show’

 

SUBHAI JAMALPUR (HAJIPUR), 12 Aug 2014: The much-heralded coming together of political enemies, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, after 23 years failed to live up to its billing when only a few hundred people turned up to witness the grand alliance in this Yadav stronghold, barely 35km from the capital, Patna, on Monday.

 

The poor turnout was a pointer to the problems the combo is likely to face in the days ahead in selling the reunion to the people, who do not appear to have warmed up to the Lalu-Nitish attempt to pose a challenge to the BJP that all but obliterated the two parties in this year’s Lok Sabha elections.

 

 

In the LS elections, RJD got 20.6% votes, JD(U) 15.8% votes, and the Congress 8.2%. With over 44% votes together against the BJP-led NDA’s 40% votes, the duo would appear clear winner. But, the school playground in which they addressed the meeting was almost empty and a major patch was occupied by visiting journalists and OB vans. Asked about the low turnout, Subhai villager Ram Subhag said, "We did not know that Lalu and Nitish were coming. For us, it was a normal election meeting."

 

Guided by electoral compulsions more than perhaps a genuine appreciation of each other, Nitish and Lalu hugged each other on the stage, held each other’s raised hands, and berated the BJP. However, there were no slogans raised about the "maha-gatbandhan" or the grand alliance, even though their respective workers did try to impress that this coalition was the need of the hour.

 

Attacking the BJP president Amit Shah for his remarks that Nitish is in Lalu’s lap for power, Lalu thundered, "I am Nitish’s elder brother. So naturally he will sit on my lap, not yours (Shah’s)."

 

Nitish added, "The BJP president is worried over our alliance because he understands its strength... Those ruling the country today had no role in the freedom struggle. Even their ancestors didn’t spend a single day in jail for the country. Their only aim is to saffronize and divide society. Lalu and I have united to keep the nation united."

 

Nitish, who parted ways with the BJP in June 2013 after it projected Narendra Modi as its PM candidate and quit as Bihar CM a day after JD(U) won only two of Bihar’s 40 LS seats, said the people have now started realizing they were cheated in the elections.

 

"Now that we are united, you need not be misguided. We will continue our struggle till we frustrate the BJP’s plans," he said and added their coming together was the need of the hour," Nitish said.

 

"Our cement and sand are strong," said Lalu in his inimitable style as Nitish talked about unity. In his address, the RJD boss, whose party ruled Bihar for nearly 15 years till the JD(U)-BJP alliance led by Nitish "freed the state from jungle raj" in 2005, was visibly happy.

 

Saying the "grand alliance" in Bihar has sent a positive message across the country, he appealed to arch rivals and former UP CMs Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to bury the hatchet and fight the BJP with united might. "India has gone into the hands of wrong people and the primary need is to liberate it from them," he said.