Lalu’s political enemies have coined a new epithet for him: Modern Manuvadi. For the uninitiated, Manu was the first man or the first law-giver in ancient India. Much of Indian moral and ethical codes, strictures, and the “caste system” were devised by Manu.

Manuvadi is therefore, any person who advocates Manu’s codes. And it is a dirty word in today’s social and political parlance.

Given this background, it is interesting to examine how (or why) Lalu can be termed as such. The worthies who have coined this happen to be (both of them) ex-Railway ministers: Nitish Kumar and Ram Vilas Paswan. For years they have battled against Lalu Raj without much success or probably because they were given lucrative positions in the central government. Whatever the reason the outcome is clear: they have failed to defeat Lalu.

RVP and NK are were bitter rivals till recently. Like so many “friendships” that happen in Indian politics, this is nothing new. Both of us face a powerful adversary, so let’s forget our differences, for a while become friends, and defeat the adversary. What happens after the enemy is defeated is a question best not answered. In their words,

“We are for change. Whatever happens will be for the betterment of the State; and Ram Vilasji is my elder brother whatever he says will be acceptable to us”, replied Nitish…

Methinks Nitish should be rechristened Lakshmana for he has accepted Ram (Vilas Paswan) as his elder brother. The reason for this new-found brotherly love is not far to seek.

Nitish who has been spearheading the cause to dethrone RJD boss in the forthcoming Assembly elections “at any cost”. The next meeting will be held in New Delhi soon.
With Assembly elections knocking at the door, a rather desperate Nitish has crossed every limit to invite the LJP chief for a formidable formation to fight the 14-year-old Lalu-Rabri regime. [...]
Nitish called the RJD boss a “modern manuwadi” explaining, “Lalu Prasad has always divided people on caste lines and discriminated against the extremely backwards for his political mileage.”

Nitish also holds sizeable clout within the NDA, and is desperately trying to get it change tracks. We only need to wait and observe how this will unfold in future. However, this is certainly a difficult task because elder brother Ram wants Lakshmana Nitish to break away from the BJP, which puts Nitish in a dilemma. However, expediency is the only factor that counts in politics. We also need to recall that the same RVP was once inducted as a minister in the first (second?), brief innings of the BJP before he broke away from them “forever.”

It would be amusing if it was not so gross. RVP who is plotting to overthrow Lalu, happens to be Minister of Chemicals & Steel in the UPA government, while Lalu is the Railway Minister. And they are both bitter rivals in the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

However, of one thing I’m certain: it takes more than just an alliance of likeminded enemies to defeat Lalu.

Tags: Commentary, Indian Politics