Will the Benami properties case be Lalu Prasad's undoing?
What's the story
Yesterday, Lalu Prasad Yadav's family members were grilled by the Income Tax department in the benami properties and disproportionate assets case. The I-T department served notices to the family members last month. They failed to appear for questioning citing Mahagathbandhan rally preparations as the reason. Could this case damage Lalu's already-frayed reputation, which was shining brightly a few decades ago?
Rise
Lalu's rise to power
As a student leader in the 1970s, Lalu joined Jayprakash Narayan's anti-establishment campaign against corruption. His street-smartness ensured his dramatic rise within the Janata Party which led him to win LS' Chapra seat in the 1977 post-emergency elections. Following Janata Party's collapse in the 1980s, many leaders claimed its mantle. Lalu walked away with the Bihar faction forming the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Support base
Who voted for Lalu?
In the 1990s, Lalu got support of the backward classes by supporting the Mandal Commission, which identified the country's socially and economically backward classes, and by glorifying his journey from cowherd to CM. His harping of his "Yadav" identity and Muslim-wooing, as BJP's Hindutva agenda spread following Babri Masjid demolition, secured him the Muslim-Yadav combination, which is 31% of Bihar's population.
Reversal of fortunes
Lalu's downfall begins
Once regarded a "socialist" and "Mandal messiah", Lalu faced corruption charges in the famous "fodder scam" of 1996. This fodder scam was related to the falsified withdrawal of about Rs. 1000 crore from the state's animal husbandry department when Lalu was CM in the 90s. Anticipating the CBI's inquiry, Lalu stepped down and named wife Rabri CM. This way power remained in his hands.
Victory for democracy
Ouster from power
Lalu and Rabri ruled Bihar during the major part of 1980-2003. Economic development was abysmal, and he was famously heard saying that economic development doesn't get votes. Karma caught up and Lalu ended up losing power in 2005. JD(U) secured a clear mandate in Bihar. Moreover, it is assumed he faced voters' ire as he was promoting his sons and daughter.
Shortcoming
Could not be a visionary for Bihar or his family
Though Lalu gave Bihar's lower classes a voice, he failed to do anything substantive. He did not provide a clear-cut plan to eliminate society's feudalistic tendencies. Law and order also suffered. With regard to his family, although promoting them cost him his power, he did not encourage them to build their identity. Sons Tejaswi and Tej Pratap and daughter Misa remain in his shadow.
Future
Will the Mahagathbandhan help secure his lost prestige?
BJP plans to dent Lalu's Yadav-Muslim base in the 2019 LS elections by fielding Yadavs and Muslims. After JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar left the Mahagathbandhan last month following the fresh unravelling of corruption case against Lalu, he has been determined about making the Mahagathbandhan a success. Will his latest slogan "BJP bhagao, desh bachao," entice his lost voter base? We'll have to wait and watch.