Dear Lalu, ‘Mandal’ bomb will no longer pay you

Recently Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav exhorted "Mandal bomb" to put a brake on continuous rise of Bhartiya Janata Party. He dropped enough hints of joining hand with JD(U), though officially not announced it. "I am just working to unite the 'Mandal' or social justice forces. This is necessary to check the rise of communal forces in the country," Lalu Prasad said, while speaking on the occasion of RJD's 18th foundation day at Vaishali. Earlier Nitish Kumar had sought RJD's support requesting to back two of its candidates in Rajya Sabha bye-election which ultimately they scraped through. In response to Lalu's swiping remark, BJP took potshots, saying that all sections of society voted for us in Lok Sabha election and the thumping majority is the big proof of that. "Now both Mandal and Kamandal are with BJP as indicated by general election recently," former deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said.

Nitish ran a campaign against Lalu Yadav from 1997 till 2005

Predicament of these two leaders Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar could be well gauged after a huge rout in Lok Sabha election. RJD got only 4 seats while JD(U) could manage only two seats. Pushed to political oblivion, they have hatched this plan to hoodwink innocent people of Bihar. People of Bihar are well aware about Lalu raj of ninties and this time they will not fall victim again.

Lalu became champion of backward class

'Mandal bomb' refers to the politics of 1990s when Mandal Commission report was implemented which had provision to give reservation to OBCs in Government jobs. It was Mandal wave which catapulted RJD in power. Since then, Lalu ruled the State continuously for 15 years till 2005 when Nitish Kumar wrested power from him.
In spite of BJP riding high after Advani's rath yatra, Janata Dal, CPI and CPM combine had grabbed 48 of Bihar's 54 seats in 1991. The ‘Kamandal' proponent could manage only five. During those days Lalu rasad Yadav was considered to be a big leader of backward class. His votes were always his prerogative because of his own caste, and then by arresting Advani's Rath in Samastipur he pulled Muslims votes in his kitty. Over the years, his main votes have been Muslims-Yadav combination (‘MY'). Nitish Kumar parted ways with Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1994 and floated his own party named Samata Party.

Nitish thrive on Lalu's Jungle raj

Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ran a campaign against Lalu Prasad Yadav from 1997 till 2005 and tasted power mainly on the same plank. Nitish Kumar held Lalu Prasad Yadav responsible for "jungle raj" in Bihar. To expose RJD in Fodder Scam - was his only motive till he came to power. Now, it seems Narendra Modi surge has made these two bitter political rivals insecure and in search of lost ground they are showing this new bonhomie.

RJD chief is getting fodder from combine vote per cent of RJD (29.5%) and JDU (15.5 %) in Lok Sabha election and that goes to 45 per cent more than BJP (31%). He believes that unified force will maul BJP in coming Assembly election. Lalu Prasad Yadav is eyeing for complete Muslim votes which got fractured between JD(U) and RJD in Lok Sabha election. He knows Yadav votes are already in his kitty and now doing all efforts to appease Kurmis, Yadavs, and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) through Nitish Kumar.

Lok Sabha result-A big message
But, BJP is not perturbed at all saying all castes have seen ruthless regime during Lalu's time. Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav said, "OBCs and EBCs have seen RJD's 15 year rule in Bihar which gave them nothing except for slogans and will not want to go back to Lalu Prasad".

Leader further said that 'MY' formula is no longer relevant now as OBCs and EBC which were his support base earlier, have switched their loyalties to BJP now and that is because of charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

By forging alliance with Nitish's JDU, Lalu Yadav probably wants to create magic of 1990s again.

But much water has flown since then. Now people no longer votes on the basis of caste and religion. Mandal-Kamandal has become redundant now and people no longer identify themselves with it. Gone are the days when people could be easily beguiled by making tall and false promises. People no longer go berserk over caste and religion issue. Now they vote for good governance and development. BJP got record number of votes just because people believed that they will provide good governance and better living standard. Both Nitish and Lalu should take this message straightway otherwise they will face same consequences in coming Assembly election also.