Sentencing of lalu Prasad Yadav left his supporters shell shocked; however, it took one brief meeting with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief to ignite passion among the ardent followers who kept on knocking at the doors of Birsa Munda Central Jail where Yadav has been lodged since September 30.
Following pronouncement of sentence, MlAs, senior leaders of RJD and president of lok Janshakti Party (lJP) Ram Vilas Paswan met lalu at the central jail.
lalu’s old-time friend Paswan met the disgraced former Bihar Chief Minister and discussed strategies in the changed scenario besides expressing his solidarity and support to lalu and his party.
“In future also, we will contest elections together,” maintained Paswan adding “I came to see him (lalu) as a friend. This is how friends are recognised.”
Although Paswan expressed his solidarity with the RJD, he reserved comments on Congress, Rahul Gandhi and the infamous ordinance which could have saved lalu’s Parliamentary seat. Interestingly, when the entire RJD clan was talking about parting ways with Congress for dumping lalu, the lJP Supremo appeared keen on forming an alliance with the main constituent of United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Paswan was accompanied by his actor turned politician son Chirag Paswan.
“Alliance with Congress depends on them. We are ready because national politics is supreme. Despite so many things, our principal enemy is NDA,” added Paswan.
lalu’s son Tejaswi Yadav, former minister of lalu Yadav’s government Aabo Devi, Yadav’s brother-in-law Prabhunath Singh Yadav, Jagdishpur MlA Bhai Dinesh Kumar Singh, Marhaura MlA Jitendra Kumar Roy were among the prominent RJD workers to meet former Bihar CM after the sentence was pronounced.
Though, an apparently somber Tejaswi did not talk to media while entering the jail premises, a security personnel outside the quipped, “Betwa bahut udaas ho gaya hai. (The Son has become really sad.)”
In a one to one meeting with supporters lalu asked them to fight with renewed vigour so that the party gives a befitting reply to opponents in the next lok Sabha elections.
“laluji has instructed us to head back to constituency and start a political battle from there. He said there is no need to get disheartened,” said Roy.
Earlier, the Jagdishpur MlA hit back at Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for stonewalling the ordinance. “This country is been run by Sonia and Rahul only,” Singh said.
Incidentally, Counsel Chitranjan Prasad also met lalu after he was awarded the sentence. Prasad said, “We have not received copy of the judgment but we will definitely file an appeal in the High Court once we get the copy.”