Why two Yadavs, Mulayam, Laloo, ditch comrades, back the Swami

Ramdev—who commands huge following for his breathing therapy—has been accused by Brinda Karat of selling fake drugs, but Laloo and Mulayam see an MNC conspiracy in the allegations. That both the Yadavs are good friends of the Karats, even in their anti-MNC evangelism, only adds to the irony of it all.

Behind the anti-MNC rhetoric, Mulayam betrayed his real motive. ‘‘He has crores of supporters, and is being unfairly targeted,’’ he said. Laloo went a step further and equated himself with the Swami. ‘‘Both of us fight against the MNCs and people are conspiring against us,’’ he said. Mulayam has even declared the support of the UP governement for the Swami.

Now, perhaps the real reason. Swami Ramdev is among the three most popular Yadavs in the country—about who comes first, Laloo and Mulayam may disagree again, but for now, each one is set to milk the popularity for the yoga teacher. Both in UP and Bihar, Ramdev’s following is tremendous—he has changed the topics in the afternoon discussion of housewives; and absentee government servants in these states now practise pranayama in the secretariat lawns rather than playing cards. ‘‘He has a large following and by taking such extreme positions, not only do you strengthen MNCs but also push his followers to the communalist camp,’’ Shiwanand Tiwari, spokesperson of the RJD says about the CPM charges.

Laloo had even wanted to get Swami Ramdev for campaigning in the last Assembly elections in Bihar. Almost as a brainwave, Laloo said at one of his evening durbars: ‘‘Let’s get Swami Ramdev to campaign for us.’’ However, there is no record of what happened subsequently. Ramdev is scheduled to organise a Yoga camp in Patna in March and that is when you are likely to spot Laloo in sheershasana.