Mr or Mrs, it’s Laloo rule in Bihar

She did not forget to mention what has emerged as RJD’s new mantra for development – improvement of women’s lot.To prove that the State Government means business, the Cabinet in its first meeting decided to launch a programme for women, though she was not able to elaborate what it was all about. “Ask Saheb,’ she echoed yet again. Catapulted into limelight literally overnight, Rabri Devi looked distinctly uncomfortable fending questions from mediapersons. She was completely at sea tackling political questions, referring them all the time to her saheb. Asked whether she supported a separate Jharkhand state, she looked askance, as if waiting for the JMM leaders Shibu Soren, Suraj Mandal and Simon Marandi, to come to her aid. She then asked this reporter to seek them out for a reply.

Even after 24 hours of being sworn in as Chief Minister of this volatile state, the realisation had apparently not sunk in. “Hum raat bhar chinta ke mare so nahin sake” (I could not sleep the whole of last night because of worry), she informed reporter.

But this did not deter her from launching a full-blooded attack on her husbands detractors for their role in forcing her `saheb’ to abdicate his chair in her favour. “Chara ghotala galat hai. Ek shadyantra ka natija hai (The fodder scam is a result of a conspiracy),” she quipped.

Though she did not identify the names of the conspirators, Rabri Devi claimed that they were some MPs sitting in Delhi. “Saheb and I are going to tour the entire state to unmask their nefarious designs, she claimed.

Clad in a printed cotton sari, Rabri Devi would have easily passed off as any other housewife hailing from an unpretentious background. By her own admission, she had received education only upto class V in a school in her village Shhlarkalan. “It’ll take some time for me to understand the government’s way of functioning,” she confessed. Mother of nine children, Rabri Devi maintained that, even though her first love would always remain her family, she would be able to blend her two roles comfortably. “I love cooking and looking after my family,’ she quipped, adding, “I had personally cooked the dinner for the entire family last night.”

Indeed, when Laloo, sitting in her office in a corner, jokingly talked of a role-reversal by saying that he would henceforth cook for the family and rear their children, Rabri Devi appeared to be cheesed off completely. “Please do not pay heed to his remarks. He is only teasing us,” she pointed out. Rabri Devi married Laloo early in her life. “I was only 15 when I married Saheb. Two years later Nisa, the eldest daughter, was born. Their last child Kursi was born after Laloo became CM in 1990.

After spending about two-and-a-half hours in the Old Secretariat office, the couple, accompanied by about a hundred supporters, were off to attend a felicitation ceremony at their 1, Anne Marg official residence. There, while Rabri Devi stood in the forefront accepting garlands, Laloo stood in the background instructing them to come in order. The contents of the slogans raised by their supporters on the occasion had also undergone a change in keeping with the times. “Rabri Devi Zindabad” was followed by “Rabri-Laloo Zindabad.” Perhaps realising the awkward situation they were creating, the slogan-shouters soon changed tune — “Tum sangharsh karo, hum tumare saath hain,” they ultimately yelled.

After a brief stay there, Rabri Devi was back in her office to attend the second round of Cabinet meeting – this time alone. Laloo stayed back but was soon conferring with party colleagues on his future course of action.

CM to seek trust vote; RJD men unlikely to quit

The Bihar Governor, Dr A R Kidwai asked her to prove her majority within a fortnight, but the house wife-turned-politician apparently decided not to lose time in re-demonstrating the support her husband Laloo Prasad Yadav garnered with the help of the Jharkhand group and independent MLAs following split in the Janata Dal. Laloo had won his trust vote on July 15.

Meanwhile, the three Rashtriya Janata Dal ministers in the Gujral government are likely to stick to their posts, despite rejection of membership for their party within the United Front, as a result of broad understanding is said to have been reached by the Front standing committee meeting Friday night on their continuance.