Technical knock-out

RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav managed to outwit Ramvilas Paswan yet again while nominating members to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar. Paswan had organised everything to have Ranjan Yadav—one-time Lalu acolyte and now his bitter foe—elected with the support of the BJP and JD(U). Lalu waited till the last day and then got Sonia Gandhi to armtwist Paswan. He was told to select anyone other than Ranjan Yadav if he was to get the support of the RJD and Congress. Sonia is believed to have done some plainspeak to Paswan, who then had no option but to concede. Paswan’s candidate is a Mumbai-based businessman who has contested Assembly elections in Bihar once as Lalu’s candidate and once as Paswan’s.