Tags:
Journalism of Courage
More than half of the 243 MLAs elected to the Bihar Assembly this February were first-timers, who are upset that they have in effect been laid off without even getting a chance to see the inside of the Assembly hall. 8216;8216;I managed to fight an election with a lot a preparation and effort. I do not know how I will manage this fresh election which has been thrust upon me,8217;8217; said Lallan Paswan, JDU MLA from Chenari, echoing the sentiments of a large number of MLAs 8212; some of whom mortgaged their land to campaign.
Even veterans like Ramashraya Prasad Singh from Makdumpur say it is difficult to contest two elections in a year. 8216;8216;The workers have not even got to relax,8217;8217; said Singh.
Ironically it was the tearing hurry of the LJP8217;s first-time MLAs and Independents to be in power that led to the dissolution of the Assembly. 8216;8216;We did not do much to attract them LJP rebels and Independents towards us. They were so desperate to be in government that they were chasing us,8217;8217; said a JDU functionary.
They paid the price with their membership when the UPA pre-empted the defection by dissolving the Assembly. RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav rubbed it in today. 8216;8216;These MLAs were in a hurry to become ministers. Now if they want, they can write bhutpurv vidhayak on their letterheads. Even better, they could write abhutpurv vidhayak,8217;8217; the RJD chief said. Many of MLAs blame LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan for their misfortune. 8216;8216;For people like me it is going to be tough to contest and win again. It is all because of Paswan,8217;8217; said the LJP8217;s first-time MLA from Konch, Anil Kumar.
