After reaching Patna from 78-day incarceration in Ranchi’s Hotwar Jail, RJD supremo lalu Prasad on Wednesday came out in his real self and attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for being “stepney” of Narendra Modi and BJP. He also said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had called him up soon after his release from the jail and expressed her happiness.
“Nitish Kumar has been stepney of BJP and its leader Narendra Modi… he is no more a factor in Bihar’s political landscape... now I’ve come out from jail and will see them all in the upcoming maha-dungal (biggest fight) of democracy,” he said at Rabri Devi’s official residence 10, Circular Road.
Earlier on Tuesday midnight the RJD chief, along with a large number of followers and party leaders, had reached Patna residence amid fire crackers and welcome songs. From the Jharkhand border when lalu Prasad entered Bihar on Tuesday evening over 200 vehicles were following his caravan upto Patna.
A day after reaching to the State capital lalu Prasad took on his political bete noire Nitish Kumar head on and said he had never seen an opportunist leader like him. “Nitish jaisa opportunist leader nahi dekha,” he charged while adding that Nitish-fitish koi factor nahi hai ab Bihar mein.
“The people of the State have been watching everything and when the time will come we’d give them befitting reply”, he said. The RJD boss also said that since he has come out he would take on the communal forces strongly.
A visibly composed lalu Prasad said that Sonia Gandhi had called him up when he got out from the Ranchi jail.
“Soniaji had telephoned me and had graciously extended her greetings over my release. She also pledged to forge an alliance with all secular parties to take on communal forces,” said lalu.
Earlier, soon after coming out from Ranchi jail, lalu Prasad had declared that he would be with the Congress to defeat the communal forces in the country. When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s candidature for prime ministership of the country, the RJD chief asked: “Whats wrong with Rahul GandhiIJ...why he should not become the Prime MinisterIJ”
Political observers in the State said that the astute politician lalu Prasad now has made up his mind to make up with the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi. “Earlier, he had fallen out with Rahul Gandhi for reasons known to all…later, he did try a lot to make up but couldn’t succeed... Now, after the crushing defeat of Congress party in four State Assembly polls lalu Prasad wants to seize the opportunity once again to prove his loyalty,” he said.
Significantly, the RJD leader also expressed his gratitude to CPI-Ml general secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya for coming to his favour and speaking against injustice meted out to him for which he had to go to jail in a fodder scam case.
“It is quite rare among politicians to stand for others and criticise injustice selflessly. Deepankar Bhattacharya has displayed that he is an upright leader for taking things in right perspective”, said he and threw enough hint that CPI-Ml too would come along with his party to contest the forthcoming lok Sabha poll.
“Both of us, RJD and CPI-Ml holds considerable political influence in Central Bihar”, he added later.When asked about his debar from contesting poll, lalu Prasad promptly said though he has been debarred from sansad [Parliament], now he would go to jan-sansad[people’s Parliament] and “drive away the communal forces”.
later, in the day the RJD supreme left for Aurangabad to meet one of his relative and was given warm welcome by his party leaders and workers at Arwal.
Earlier, last night Rabri Devi had cooked lalu Prasad’s favorite food makke ki roti and chane ka saag along with Dal-Bhaat and subzi. Before calling it a day the RJD chief had to request his followers to go to their residence and meet him tomorrow.
Then the rustic yet charismatic leader of Bihar lalu Prasad went for a good night’s sleep on his bed after 78-days!
e.o.m.