Lalu Prasad Yadav: The tiger from Bihar is back, but the roar is missing

Snappy wisecracks were missing, smile seemed faded and health frail as former union minister, former chief minister of Bihar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday addressed his first political meeting in three years. Lalu was released on bail in April this year after spending more than three years in jail following his conviction in fodder scam cases.

While the thrust of his speech was expected, the roar was missing. Known for his fiery speeches and livewire wit, Prasad delivered a subdued speech and slurred on occasions. Expectedly, he castigated the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and Nitish Kumar administration in Bihar for their “many failures” and indulged in some son worship, showering praise on son Tejashwi Yadav.

Appearing virtually to mark the silver jubilee of the party he founded in 1997 after breaking away from the Janata Dal, Prasad, who is suffering from many ailments and convalescing at his MP daughter Misa Bharti’s home in New Delhi, recalled his struggles for OBC quota and the fight for the rights of the weaker sections.

“GST and demonetisation as also corona have created an economic crisis. Now, there is the threat of destroying the social fabric. After Ayodhya, some people are talking about Mathura,” Prasad, a strident critic of the BJP, said without naming the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports PTI

Son worship
The former chief minister showered praise on his younger son Tejashwi Yadav, who is the leader of the opposition, for wisely leading the party during the assembly elections in 2020.

“Frankly, I had never expected this from him. He safely anchored the RJD’s boat (naiya paar lagayi). RJD has a bright future,” he said. RJD is the single largest party in the 243-member Bihar assembly though the JD(U)-BJP alliance governs the state.

Prasad also had a word of praise for his elder son Tej Pratap who, he said, made a “forceful speech” at the event. He credited his wife Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, and Tejashwi for being alive.

“But for them, I would have perished in Ranchi (where he was incarcerated in the fodder scam cases). Doctors at AIIMS here also took great care of me,” Prasad said.

“I am coming soon”
He promised RJD workers and leaders that he will overcome whatever remained of the illness and visit Bihar soon. “I will come to Patna soon…not only Patna, I will mark my attendance in all districts of Bihar soon. Please don’t lose patience,” he told them.