Rallying Points
Durga puja in Bihar may not be as big as it is in neighbouring West Bengal, but along with Navratri, ear-splitting celebrations are on. DJ-Navratris are popular. Durga puja pandals are clogging up the sluggish traffic even more. The mood is festive. This, BJP insiders claim, is the main reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose not to come for rallies in Paligunj, Buxur and Hajipur, coinciding with the second phase of polling in Bihar. Security was also a concern. The other reason is the long gap between October 16 and the next phase of polling, October 28. The Lalu-Nitish camp is not buying the reasoning. The “cancellation”, they claim, is an indicator of “ulti hawa” (opposite wind). The PM, however, has several strategic rallies lined up: three on October 25, two on 26th and three on 27th. The poll panel bosses have conveyed to both sides not to schedule ‘big rallies’ in tandem with poll-timing.
Dissidence Management
Union minister Radha Mohan Singh has been given a special task by BJP chief Amit Shah: to manage local-level dissidents. He apparently did the same job in Haryana rather well. And in Bihar, he knows them personally.
In Between
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Amar Singh may find his way back into the Samajwadi Party (SP) fold. He recently took potshots at his bête noir Azam Khan while patching up with Mulayam Singh’s cousin and key SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav.
Rahul Calls Lalu
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is not to be seen in the heat and tumble of Bihar elections, but he was heard of, in tangent. After a ceiling fan fell at an RJD rally in East Champaran injuring Lalu Yadav slightly, Rahul Gandhi called him. Touched by this concern, Lalu told an aide that he is ready to forgive the Congress scion.
Internet Contest
Morphed photographs of Bihar’s poll-players are part of an online-game popular among young voteratti: choose your ‘Item number’.