PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s ‘Dahi-Chura’ (curd-rice flakes) parties on the occasion of Makar Sankranti have always hogged the limelight. This year was no different, especially with social media channels and YouTubers being hyper-speculative this time.
Last year Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was among those who attended Lalu’s ‘Dahi-Chura’ feast in Patna. One year later, the atmosphere at 10, Circular Road, the official residence of former chief minister Rabri Devi in the state capital, had at least one thing in common: a festive mood shadowed by political uncertainties.
Last year, while Nitish Kumar participated in Lalu’s party on Makar Sankranti, he snapped ties with the RJD-led grand alliance just days later and formed a new government with BJP.
The RJD had invited Nitish to participate in this year’s ‘Dahi-Chura’ feast too, but Lalu’s most-valued guest gave the invite the go-by.
Coming back to this year’s party, several RJD workers had brought curd, flattened rice, and tilkut (a sweet made in Bihar and Jharkhand states), which are integral to Makar Sankranti.
However, unlike earlier, this time Lalu Prasad did not open the doors of his house for everyone. According to information, only selected leaders were invited to the feast. Until a few years ago, the Dahi-Chura party was organised at Rabri Devi’s residence for all party leaders and workers, as well as common people.
Message for party workers
A large number of members from the minority community and women enjoyed the feast even as the party MLAs, MLCs, and district presidents were asked to organise ‘Dahi-Chura’ parties from January 14 to 17 and reach out to people from all sections of the society.
As Lalu, in a thoughtful mood, wearing a long coat and monkey cap sat on a chair resting his legs on another chair, his party workers came and greeted him. The party workers expressed their wish that Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav, presently the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, become chief minister after the polls.
This journalist saw Lalu advising them to work hard to ensure the victory of RJD candidates in the state assembly polls scheduled in October-November.
While talking to newspersons, Lalu said, “Is baar Tejashwi hi CM honge (This time, Tejashwi will become the CM).”
On the other side, Rabri Devi and her eldest son and MLA Tej Pratap Yadav, who was wearing a green cap, were sitting. When journalists asked them whether Nitish had been invited to the feast, Tej Pratap shot back saying the chief minister had not been invited.
“I will not let him enter 10, Circular Road,” he blurted out in a style typically associated with him. Tej Pratap’s statement, however, contrasted with his sister and party MP Misa Bharti’s. When asked about the speculations over Nitish rejoining the grand alliance, she remarked, “Politics is a game of possibilities.”
Talking to reporters before entering Rabri’s residence to join the ‘Dahi-Chuda’ party, Misa remarked, “Auspicious work starts after Makar Sankranti.”
She, however, added that it was too early to say whether some political realignment would take place in the state.
When asked if Nitish would come to Rabri Devi’s residence to participate in the ‘Dahi-Chura’ party, she said it would be nice if he came. “Nitish Ji is like our guardian; he is most welcome if he reunites with the grand alliance,” she averred.
Through a feast one can see only the business of chair. In reality, what a brother is to a brother, Nitish is to Lalu.