RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is facing a new problem from the home front. The Bihar victory seems to have brought him more problems rather than peace of mind. After getting his two sons accommodated in chief minister Nitish Kumar cabinet, the king maker is facing another problem, this time from his daughter Misa Bharati.
Misa ,considered more astute politically rather than her brothers, is said to have expressed her intension to go to Rajya Sabha. Naturally, a lot party cadre is also exerting pressure on the party leadership to send her to parliament through Rajya Sabha.Their argument is that since her bid to go to Lok Sabha had not met with success, it is high time that she be sent to Rajya Sabha at least now as the JD-RJD combine commands absolute majority in the Bihar Assembly which elects Rajya Sabha members. Last year, Lalu tried to push her into Rajya Sabha l when JD and RJD joined hands to elect three members. Lalu is said to have struck a deal with Nitish to send Misa to Rajya Sabha. But, somehow, the deal fizzled out as the Nitish was not too keen to send Misa. Lalu, given his weak position, swallowed it up as he did not want the bonhomie undermined by a small issue. Now, having emerged single largest party in the Assembly, Misa revived her demand for a Rajya Sabha nomination.
Lalu now wants JDU to support Misa’s candidature to make her a Rajya Sabha member. Even though Lalu got his sons comfortably accommodated in Nitish Cabinet, it was not without struggle. The question that led to intense debate in the house was who should be the number two in the cabinet. According to sources, Lalu Yadav had to face a lot of difficulties before formation of the Cabinet. His sons,Tejashwi Yadav and Tejpratap Yadav-wanted to be given important portfolios. There was no unanimity in the family. while his wife, Rabri Devi, wanted to promote Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu had a soft corner for the younger one Tejaswi Yadav. Finally, Lalu got his choice appointed deputy of Nitish while the elder on had to make to do with a cabinet berth.
Now Lalu has to get the nod of JD U to send Misa Bharati to Rajya Sabha. Five Rajya Sabha members from Bihar – Gulam Rasool Balyawi, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, K.C. Tyagi, Pavan Kumar Varma and Sharad Yadav – are going to retire in the middle of next year. Lalu is said to have placed his demand before the CM.
