Lalu Prasad Yadav showed why he is still relevant. The RJD chief managed to gather a huge crowd for his rally in Patna against the BJP on Sunday. Presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav apart from leaders from other parties sent out a clear signal that the opposition parties had a common enemy—the BJP.
Does that mean opposition is united in its fight against the BJP?
The situation is still a far cry from what should be a political formation even three years after the Modi government was sworn in. The BJP is advancing not just to finish off the Congress, they are going against the entire opposition in their strong holds. The others like AIADMK and JD(U) feel it is far better to be on the winning side than the opposition that lacks cohesion and definite narrative against the government.
Lalu Yadav's rally, however, gives a hope to those who are fighting against the BJP. If they don't get together, they risk being wiped out. But what needed was a better narrative. Aligning with Lalu Prasad Yadav in the name of unity was fraught with a danger of being tagged with the corrupt, the reason Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sitaram Yechury apparently stayed away.
But any opposition formation needs Lalu for his rustic charm and ability to still spring a surprise despite several set backs. The Sunday rally was also aimed to showcase who would be his political heir. Tejaswvi Yadav, who was the deputy chief minister in the Nitish Kumar government, is gearing up to take up his father’s role.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav has chosen to take on Nitish Kumar head on as he, even after warning from the latter, attended Lalu's meet. Sharad now risks being disqualified from the party.
The presence of Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Yadav on the same stage highlighted that at least this grouping could hope to preserve Yadav vote-bank from poaching by the BJP if they stick together.
Mayawati's absence shows she is still not ready to trust the Yadav brotherhood or the Congress as she fears they stand to gain more from sharing her dalit vote bank.
It would need much more cajoling from everyone to bring her on board. Meanwhile, she would hold her show of strength on September 18 in Meerut as she starts her campaign across the country.
AAP would never attend Lalu Yadav rally as he is seen as corrupt and carries a convict tag.
But the rally did send a signal that it was too early to write off Lalu Prasad Yadav.
