Don’t serve issues to BJP: Left tells Laloo, Paswan

It is ironic that the Left Front should be angry with Union ministers Laloo Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan for their mud-slinging in publ...

It is ironic that the Left Front should be angry with Union ministers Laloo Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan for their mud-slinging in public when it itself has been pouring its heart out against the Government’s economic policies.

Today, CPI’s D. Raja said the RJD and Lok Janashakti should ‘‘exercise restraint’’. His logic: ‘‘After all, this would be like giving the BJP an issue’’.

Forward Bloc leader and Rajya Sabha MP Debabrata Biswas was even more emphatic: ‘‘This is embarrassing. It is as though there is a conspiracy to serve the BJP an additional issue on a platter.’’

Interestingly, the stronger views came from the smaller partner, Forward Bloc, which does not have much stake in Bihar politics. For the CPI(M) and the CPI, Laloo remains the safer bet. If he fares badly next year, the Left thinks Paswan may be tempted to inch closer to the JD(U). This, despite the fact, that Laloo’s brand of caste politics has eroded whatever base the CPI had in Bihar. After all, seven years ago, the CPI did return leaders of the stature of Chaturanan Mishra from the province.

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