After three days of campaigning while braving the scorching summer heat in Saran from where his second daughter Singapore-based Rohini Acharya is contesting the Lok Sabha poll, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad appears cool and composed on a muggy Sunday morning. Sitting on a cane chair at the porch of 10, Circular Road which is his wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s official residence, Mr. Yadav is all alone. Mr. Yadav lives there with his family members, including Tejashwi Yadav, his younger son and political heir.
Mr. Prasad appears no longer the leader whose rustic charm and earthy wit had been an inviting catch for journalists from across the globe. At 9 a.m., the leader who lorded over Bihar for 15 years from 1990-2005, by proxy or, in person, is sitting all alone with his one leg on the wooden table top. The usual horizontal harmony of courtiers is missing. The inimitable hair style of the crown prince of social justice is neatly kempt and the ubiquitous over-sized kurta-pyjama is missing. He is wearing a stylish green pull-over and comfortable black joggers. The rubber slippers are placed between the chair and the table but, the usual spittoon is conspicuous by its absence. A bottle of mineral water along with a packet of premier tissue papers and a glass, is placed on a side table at a distance. Earlier, when Mr. Prasad was potentate of Bihar politics, all these were missing from his surroundings. He was bucolic and earthy in his way of living and meeting people.
However, he was quick to say he would not give any formal “interview” at this stage (of elections) but could talk on “poll and politics” for a “story to be written”. But, what about pictures? “You can take on your mobile phone”, he quipped and began impromptu on his favorite topics of politics and poll. “Is baar BJP ka safaya ho jayega sab jagah se [BJP will be wiped out from everywhere this time]”, he said loudly as Mr. Prasad sits at a distance from visitors’ chair (may be because of his ailing health).
