Laloo seeks Paswan handshake

Railway Minister and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav is courting sworn enemy and Cabinet colleague Ram Vilas Paswan, three months after they fo...

Railway Minister and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav is courting sworn enemy and Cabinet colleague Ram Vilas Paswan, three months after they fought a bitter battle for Bihar. Laloo broke the ice with Ram Vilas’s younger brother Ramchandra Paswan during a recent flight to Patna. At the airport, he persuaded Ramchandra let him drop him home.

Another opportunity for a favour to Paswan came Laloo’s way when he learnt about a Ram Vilas protege whose railway appointment was hanging fire. Ram Vilas had wanted to appoint him in the Railways during his tenure as railway minister; the appointment, however, did not materialise. Nitish Kumar, who replaced Ram Vilas, was also not of much help. Laloo, however, was quick to complete the formalities and post him at—of course—Hajipur.

Laloo’s outreach programme does not end here. Last week, his brother-in-law and Rajya Sabha MP Subash Yadav reached Ram Vilas’s 12, Janpath residence without notice. Ram Vilas was taken aback but had a conversation with him. In Parliament corridors, Laloo makes it a point to acknowledge Ram Vilas and patronise Ramchandra.

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Though Ram Vilas is not attributing any political significance to this warming up, politics back home are persuading Laloo to mend ways. ‘‘Both Lalooji and Ram Vilasji are secular leaders and their friendship will be helpful to both besides being good for the UPA,’’ said RJD’s MP Ramkripal Yadav. ‘‘In politics everything is possible,’’ he added.

Laloo’s troubles, which started in early 2005 with his failure to win a majority, linger on and multiply—the latest is the non-bailable warrant against brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav in the flood relief scam. The DA case against Laloo and wife Rabri Devi is another sword hanging over his head. The recent reshuffle of prosecution officials by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also means trouble. Laloo no longer has friendly government lawyers who used to stonewall the progress of trials.

The RJD’s strongman is also worried that the Congress may not help him in a crisis. Cornered in Bihar and insecure about a vacillating Congress, Yadav perhaps feels it is time for another innings of friendship with Ram Vilas.

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