The buildup was perfect. All roads led to Gandhi Maidan, the venue of RJD chief Laloo Yadav’s lathi rally tomorrow. ‘‘Like Gandhi chased the British away with his lathi, Laloo will chase the BJP out,’’ said a man on the mike in one of the hundreds of mini-rallies that will merge into maha rally.Today, even as he begged journalists to leave him alone, Laloo knew he was in control. ‘‘The so-called modern people have ridiculed and treated with contempt such weapons of the downtrodden as lathi,’’ he explained in a statement.But modern weapons were back in action in Patna when, as PTI reports, RJD leader Raj Kumar Yadav, a close aide of former Bihar MLA Ranvir Yadav, who had come for the rally, was gunned down by unidentified persons. Yadav died on the spot. Earlier in the day, loudspeakers all over the city were urging people to reach Gandhi maidan, ‘‘Lathi mein tel lagake, lathi ghuma ghuma ke.’’ People were dancing on the streets with bands and performers livening up the show. Some processions had elephants and camels too. In an attempt to consolidate his Yadav-Muslim base, Laloo is showcasing his maha rally as a mobilisation drive against the BJP. Participants have been asked to carry lathis in a symbolic public display of their ability for self-defence.The RJD had made elaborate arrangements to take care of its supporters before the rally. In the pandals erected at the houses of ministers and leaders, singers and dancers were to perform through the night. While at Commerce Minister Abdul Bahri Siddiqi’s residence it was Altaf Raja, at Sadhu Yadav’s house it was the famous folk artist Baleshwar Prasad Yadav who was to perform. Musicians and dancers from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and UP were scheduled to perform at different venues in Patna tonight.However, RJD leaders were tight-lipped about this cultural sideshow. ‘‘It isn’t official. When our activists come from far-flung places it is our responsibility to take care of their needs. And everybody is doing their best,’’ said state unit president Pitambar Paswan. Though Samata Legislature Party leader Upendra Kusuaha admitted: ‘‘Laloo has managed to divert people’s attention and has also re-activated his lethargic cadres,’’ he added that the RJD leader cannot sustain this till the next polls.
