It is indeed a tough proposition to evaluate the role of RJD chief Lalu Yadav in holding the opposition meet for joint strategy against the BJP on June 23. His contribution could not be measured in terms of quantum. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lalu has been the sarathi (charioteer) of the unity Rath riding on which Nitish Kumar has been striving to accomplish his mission.
After his kidney transplant surgery in Singapore, Lalu has not been quite dexterous and capricious, but he continues to possess the element of agility. Ever since Nitish relinquished the NDA and parted company with Narendra Modi, Lalu has been putting his best efforts to cement the opposition forces and political parties and make them rally behind Nitish. No doubt Nitish apparently forged the seven party Mahagathbandhan, but Lalu performed the task of trouble shooter. He prevailed upon the leaders of the divergent political forces to join hands under leadership of Nitish.
In the case of opposition unity, he has been silently executing Nitish’s plan to provide a concrete shape and structure to the coalition well before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On September 22, last year Lalu Yadav along with Nitish had called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in his endeavour to bring the opposition parties on a common platform. This was the first ever initiative of Lau and Nitish to forge the opposition unity. This meeting at Gandhi’s residence proved to be crucial move in forging an opposition unity.
This worked to dispel and also reconcile differences between the Congress and some regional parties that have been traditionally at loggerheads. After his nearly seven year long stay in jail, this was Lalu’s first active political engagement. He undertook the task even after ailing for some time. Though personally he was not in the position to undertake the arduous task, he was emphatic; “We have to bring all opposition parties together to defeat the BJP. The Congress is in the process of electing its new president and Sonia Gandhi told us we will meet again after the election.”
Nitish reiterated his vision; “All opposition parties on the same page in the fight against the BJP and discussion on a concrete plan of action will happen later after the election for the post of Congress president”. Both the leaders were emphatic that if all non-BJP parties unite, then they can get rid of those who are working to destroy the country.
If the sources are to be relied, the suggestion to postpone the opposition meet to June 23 from June 12, has first come from him. He strongly nursed the view that a durable and effective opposition unity cannot take shape without the physical participation of Rahul Gandhi or the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. He was of course not opposed to opposition leaders discussing the formalities on June 12, but felt that the presence of Rahul Gandhi would provide a completely new dynamics to the unity.
Lalu has in fact been in touch with almost all the opposition leaders. At one stage he had even prevailed upon KCR of Telangana. But some later developments and his acute averseness towards Congress leadership created hindrance. Nevertheless sources maintain that Lalu continues with his efforts.
For his firm belief in secular values and complete adherence to Mandal politics, he was victimised by BJP, especially by the powerful L K Advani. He continues to adhere to his secular commitments. It is known fact that he had to suffer due to his stubborn anti-rightist and anti-BJP attitude. He might not have to suffer political ignominy if he had surrendered to the wishes of BJP leadership. Advani was nursing a hurt feeling for Lalu halting his prestigious “rath yatra” and sending him to jail. Recalling the incident Tejashvi Yadav, his son, only a couple of days back had observed “Lalu had stopped the rath (chariot) of L K Advani. Now, the Mahagathbandhan, led by Nitish Kumar, will stop the rath of (Narendra Modi)”.
Due to his physical inabilities he was not in the position to operate from front. Naturally he had to function from behind the scene to bring together all the opposition stalwarts and regional satraps on a common platform. It was for him some top opposition leaders consented to participate in the meeting in Patna as Lalu is recuperating now in his own state.. No doubt Bihar will be performing the historic task of bringing different opposition parties on a common platform to fight against the BJP in Lok Sabha polls.
Importance of Lalu in giving a shape to the unity of opposition could be understood from the simple fact that Tejashvi has been accompanying Nitish in his mission. Nitish takes Tejashvi where ever he goes. This makes it explicit that the mission could not be achieved without the support of Lalu. It can rightly be said that Lalu provides strength to Nitish. June 23 opposition meet would be a sort of belated birthday gift for Lalu Yadav who celebrated his 76 th birthday on June 11. RJD celebrating this day as Samajik Nyay and Samajik Safdbhav Diwas, the day for social justice and social harmony, is testimony to his relevance in the national politics. (IPA Service)