Fodder scam: It's not game over for Lalu Prasad Yadav just yet
The verdict in fodder scam cases (today's sentencing was in the second of six fodder scam cases) may have ruled out the return of Lalu Prasad Yadav to electoral politics, but it is by no means the end of his political career.
A frustratingly successful political enigma of our times, Lalu Prasad Yadav has traversed huge distances and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in his political journey. Many political pundits wrote him off after the verdict in the Chaibasa treasury case in 2013 (the first conviction) of fodder scam. Lalu lost his Lok Sabha seat and seemed down and out. However, in the Bihar Assembly elections of 2015, when the BJP was on a winning spree, he showed that neither his voter base has eroded nor has his relevance. Along with ally-turned-foe Nitish Kumar, he turned the tables on the BJP in Bihar. The margin was huge. Lalu Yadav showed he was still politically relevant.
Things did not turn out to be too rosy for the mahagathbandhan and cracks appeared in the alliance soon after, though. Initially the alliance dragged on for a bit until Nitish Kumar dumped his ally to form a government with BJP support.
First some serious corruption charges against Lalu Yadav and his family came to light, then came the verdict in the second fodder scam case. It was a huge blow for the RJD strongman. That the situation was brought about by some immature targeting of the state CM by RJD functionaries, including Lalu's sons, leads one to wonder about the future of the RJD after Lalu Yadav.
Rather than practising BJP’s Simple Rule - “Follow us or We will Fix you”. I will die happily fixing myself for Social justice, harmony & equality.
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) January 6, 2018
As long as India remains secular, Lalu Prasad Yadav will remain as a powerful political idea - inside or outside jail. https://t.co/tlTplyOY15
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) January 6, 2018
Fodder scam verdict - Lalu to be put in jail for 3.5 years. Justice delayed but certainly not denied!
— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) January 6, 2018
The BJP may think that they will get stronger by harassing @laluprasadrjd ji. But India needs Lalu Prasad Yadav ji to fight these fascists & he will emerge stronger. Whoever u support : ask yourself if Lalu ji was a part of the NDA with Modi ji , would he be in jail today?
— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) January 6, 2018
The first three of his nine children have made their political ambitions well-known. While Tejashwi Yadav is the anointed leader for now, how the other two - Tej Pratap Yadav and Misa Bharti - will contribute and cooperate with him remains to be seen. Of course, Lalu will be there in the background, grooming his successors. He will oversee the continuance of the social engineering he had so successfully designed and executed.
Lalu Yadav is not a perfect leader, just like everyone else. So what is the secret of his survival?
He has been accused of creating social divisions, though the charges don't really stick. "Before Lalu", Bihar was as casteist as it will continue to be "after Lalu". Casteism is a thriving reality across India, and not just in Bihar. But before Lalu and his "social movement", the upper castes treated the "others" with disdain. It was Lalu Yadav who took the battle right to their doorsteps. Because of him millions found their voice. He was the first politician from Bihar who gave a say to the Muslims. In fact, he gave them more than a voice. He ensured a social and political space for the minorities. They reposed their faith by voting overwhelmingly for him.
In a bouquet of political bigwigs from Bihar - and there are many - Lalu Yadav would be remembered for fighting the battle of the underprivileged.
The minorities and Yadavs found a saviour in him, at least politically. A lot was expected of him. However he was not as successful in governance as he was in politics. Bihar remained as undeveloped under him as it was under the rule of the upper castes before him. While he paid the political price despite his huge support base, corruption cases started to roll in.
It's funny though that corruption was never a big issue in Indian politics until PM Narendra Modi, during his campaign for 2014 General Elections, went to town with it. Although the country endorsed him, corruption has hardly been uprooted nor does it seem like becoming a reality anytime soon.
As for Lalu Yadav, he is not the only Bihar strongman who has been or will be accused of malpractises. He is just another "milestone" on the "power corrupts highway".
Lalu Yadav no longer enjoys the status he used to back in 2010 or 2012. His support base has eroded, though most of it has remained loyal to him. His health is failing and his allies, whom he once most stood by, are averse to openly supporting him even as his successors have not shown the mettle that is needed to take on his mantle.
But despite all that, it's still too early to write him off.