NEW DELHI, 9 November — The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is planning to make political mileage out of his journey to Ranchi to surrender before a designated court on Nov. 26.
Laloo who has used to his advantage the entire fodder scam cases against him, would have an added advantage here — he would get a chance to campaign in the "enemy territory" of Jharkhand, ruled by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.
Earlier in 1997 when he went to jail, his supporters created a ruckus on the court premises and stopped his car on the way to the Beur jail in Patna. The administration faced a tough time during the eight-hour ride. The RJD leader’s tentative plan is to go to Ranchi by road on Nov. 25. The better part of the trip would be in Jharkhand, passing through the plateau infested by Naxalites.
Once he is out of his home state, the Jharkhand government would have to provide him security as well as counter his political offensive. Laloo enjoyed immense mass support in the area in undivided Bihar and now he will be able to reach out to his constituency again. Ministers, MLAs and party workers here have been asked to make preparations for Laloo’s journey into his "lost bastion." As this comes ahead of the civic polls in Jharkhand, the state Chief Minister Babu Lal Marandi would have a tough task for him.
The RJD leaders have been accusing the BJP and its allies of hatching a conspiracy to put Laloo in one of the Ranchi jails saying that there was a threat to his life. The Jharkhand government is taking no chances with his security. It has enough time to make necessary arrangements to cope with any eventuality, particularly if he is denied bail in connection with case relating to fraudulent withdrawal from the Doranda treasury.
The Jharkhand government is apparently against lodging Laloo in Birsa Central Jail, Ranchi, because of the presence of several notorious criminals there. The hasty renovation of a guest house of the Animal Husbandry Department and the security arrangements being made there have led to the speculations that the Bihar strongman would be lodged there.
The BJP leaders in Jharkhand would breathe a sigh of relief if he returns to Patna soon as their government has faced little trouble from a divided and rudderless opposition. Laloo’s presence could give the opposition a stick to beat them with. Some of the BJP leaders talk about the possibility of his being released by the designated court upon his surrender.
