‘Laloo hasn’t been able to digest my political rise’

‘‘Laloo’s ouster is necessary for Bihar. After three terms and 15 years of Laloo Prasad Yadav, my time has come,’’ ...

‘‘Laloo’s ouster is necessary for Bihar. After three terms and 15 years of Laloo Prasad Yadav, my time has come,’’ Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan — out to pick anyone who wants to join his Lok Janshakti Party — tells VARGHESE K GEORGE during a tour of Samastipur. All along, he is greeted by huge crowds, and makes tall promises that he will build school buildings and community halls for them. Paswan also defends his new recruits, having criminal antecedents, saying ‘‘They have been implicated falsely.’’ Here are excerpts from the interview:

So your alliance with Laloo is formally and finally over?

Absolutely.

You had said you regretted your alliance with NDA. Do you now regret having teamed up with Laloo?

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Not really. After leaving the NDA over Gujarat riots, I said my priority was to defeat the BJP. An alliance with the Congress was therefore natural. But I would have liked to see the Congress, and not Laloo, lead the campaign in Bihar. I made several requests to the Congress president to make a committee headed by a Congressman in Bihar. However, the party shied away. Alliance with Laloo was not wrong. It was out of compulsion.

But what is wrong between Laloo and you?

Somehow, he has not been able to digest my rise in politics. In 1977, when my name was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for having won the biggest majority from Hajipur, he grudged it so much that he kept asking others if it was indeed true. In 1989, and again in 1996, he tried to stall my induction into the Union Cabinet. I have not quite understood his behaviour.

Why are you opposed to Laloo?

My opposition it not personal. I am opposed to him because development of Bihar is not possible without his ouster. The state has not witnessed any development in the last 15 years. Law and order have suffered a setback. The only law in Bihar is ‘Might is Right.’ I repeat I have nothing personally against Laloo, but replacing the RJD is necessary.

But Laloo has said social justice is his priority and development will follow.

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What social justice are we speaking about? Dalits have been victimised the most in the last 15 years. The police and Ranveer Sena have killed thousands of them. But no justice has been done. Even Yadavs and Muslims have been used by Laloo, and have been given nothing in return. Most Yadavs and Muslims are sentimentally with me — Dil se mere saath, dimag se Laloo ke saath. But now, they come out openly.

But isn’t there a contradiction in fighting the RJD while both of you remain a part of the UPA at the Centre?

Not at all. In Maharashtra, the RJD is fighting the Congress. Here it will be only between two alliance partners, not between the leaders of the alliance or the constituents.

What do you expect from the Congress?

All Congress workers in the state are against an alliance with RJD. They want an alliance with LJP.

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The party leaders are also aware of the sentiments but I am not too sure of what they will decide. If Congress enters into an alliance with us, we will be able to sweep the elections and wipe the RJD out.

What if you fight alone?

We will win anyway. But an alliance with the Congress will give a moral boost to us. The Congress also will benefit from us. If they ally with the RJD, they will give the moral boost to the RJD without getting anything in return.