For Sadhu’s sake, Laloo offers Siwan don the stage

Last year, former Bihar DGP D.P. Ojha had ordered the arrest of Shahabuddin in several cases, which were kept pending by police. Shahabuddin suspects, quite rightly, that Ojha was acting at Laloo’s behest. He is still in jail and took permission from the court for filing the nomination.

Today was Laloo’s day of penance. The reason: Laloo fears an angry Shahabuddin will work against his interests, particularly against brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav, who is contesting from Gopalganj neighbouring Siwan.

Laloo took pains to be in Siwan and lambasted his former confidante Ojha, whom he had sacked later. ‘‘Shahabuddin is innocent. He was falsely implicated,’’ Laloo certified. But Shahabuddin looked unimpressed as the two sat side by side before the returning officer. Laloo was patronising the MP with guidance to finish the formalities. But Shahabuddin did not hide his indifference. ‘‘I will abide by the law of the land and work for the unity and integrity of the country,’’ he pledged before the returning officer.

Shahabuddin has won two elections from jail earlier and has always considered Laloo dispensable. But Laloo cannot afford to reciprocate the sentiment. Once the don was getting increasingly defiant, Laloo perhaps tried to cut him down to size by using Ojha.

In Siwan, the larger-than-life cutouts of Laloo and Rabri are rare. Ironically, this is one of the rare constituencies where Laloo has accompanied the candidate to file the nomination.