Back to Rabri

One striking feature of the voting is that the entire Congress bloc voted in favour of the RJD, despite reports that some partymen were opposed to her. Obviously, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav had taken care to sew up the loose ends of the RJD-Congress coalition even before his wife sought the confidence vote.

Now that the Rabri Devi government has obtained legislative legitimacy, the question is what kind of governance will she be able to provide the state. There is no point belabouring the fact that the 10 years of stewardship of the state by the husband-wife team had seen the fortunes of Bihar reach their nadir. The RJD has been able to beat the NDA at the numbers8217; game not because it enjoys a grou-ndswell of public support as the RJD supremo fancifully imagines but because of some other factors like the Congress8217; readiness to play ball with him despite strenuously opposing the RJD in the elections.

Rabri Devi8217;s victory denotes the beginning of the coalition era in the state. Given the latitude with which Laloo had once constituted a jumbo ministry, she may not have much difficulty in honouring the promises of ministerial and other posts made to the parties supporting her. But this time what she may not like is the assertive role the Congress is bound to play in the running of the government.

Reports of the understanding the Congress had reached with her on the sharing of portfolios suggest that key portfolios will remain with the Congress, and not the RJD. Some may even see a silver line in this there is at least someone to tame Laloo Yadav.

The most quixotic outcome of the Bihar assembly elections is the sudden importance the Congress has assumed despite losing not only seats but also a sizable percentage of popular vote. With the prospects of enjoying power after a decade of remaining in the political wilderness, it may not bother the Congress with what face it will face the electorate having sought votes against the quot;misrulequot; of Rabri Devi.

The only way it can salvage the situation is by providing the people an effective government, a government that will restore law and order, end the anarchy on the campus, instil confidence in entrepreneurs, tone up day-to-day administration, revive agriculture and, in short, take the state into the 21st century. It is a different matter that since Laloo Yadav has himself clarified that development does not fetch votes, his wife may not see wisdom in this approach.