Nothing could have been a better occasion for the lalu Prasad family than this to celebrate. In July 1997, then Chief Minister lalu Prasad had stepped down as CBI was readying to arrest him in connection with the infamous fodder scam, and asked his wife Rabri Devi to assume the highest political office of the State. Then there had been mixed feelings, hubby was going to jail and the semi-literate wife who did not see anything beyond kitchen was to take oath as Chief Minister. Their nine children were only kids.
After over 18 years, on November 20, 2015, even as lalu is debarred from contesting election, he and his entire family is in celebration mood; and not without reason. This is possibly the first time in the country that two MlA sons of a proud parent, both former Chief Ministers, have been made Ministers. The rank of Tej Pratap and Tejaswi Yadav, aged 27 and 25 respectively, in the Nitish Kumar Cabinet is number 2 and 3 with the younger one as Deputy Chief Minister.
“This is a big responsibility. I have been elected by the people to deliver and I will leave no stone unturned to come up to their expectations,” said a beaming Tejaswi, who initially tried to become a cricketer. He now has a bigger pitch and a bigger job to perform under the careful eyes of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The induction of lalu’s both sons in the Cabinet may cause some heartburn in their own party RJD and political class as everybody seems have not taken this development kindly. An RJD leader said, “Had lalu’s daughters been MlAs they too would have been made Ministers. lalu still can’t think beyond his family.” There are strong speculations that the RJD boss might send either wife Rabri Devi or eldest of the seven daughters Misa Bharti to the Rajya Sabha next year. Rabri is already member of legislative Council.
“Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow,” said Misa while expressing happiness over his two brothers being appointed Ministers. Rubbishing the Opposition criticism, she said her brothers have been elected by the people and they are not MlCs. “The Opposition
may be pained that
four members of our family are in politics,” said Misa who lost last lok Sabha election from Patliputra. Her other sisters and brothers-in-law were also present and expressed their joy.
One youth almost the same age as Tej and Tejaswi, sat in the VIP enclosure but looked indifferent. He was Nitish Kumar’s only son Nishant Kumar. When confronted he said, “I am least interested in politics. I have no much idea about the politics. I usually don’t go to such functions but since everybody was rejoicing and happy I too came here.”