Can the Yadav king ride Dalit storm?
Arun Srivastava For nine years, Laloo Prasad Yadav has been the unchallenged king of Bihar. From charges to jail terms, nothing has flapped him. The RJD president has walked into prison riding on a horse, come out smiling on an elephant. But now, the people aren’t watching. In the midst of Bihar’s maze of caste politics, a new formation has risen and is slowly outpacing Laloo at his own game. Sometimes, like on a sultry, humid afternoon in Hajipur recently, the change is suddenly evident. A Collectorate compound in the town is overflowing with people, among them a large number of Dalits and extreme Backwards. It’s not Laloo they are waiting for but Ram Vilas Paswan, who arrives soon to file his nomination papers. Paswan, Laloo’s sworn enemy, has fought from here at least five times before, but this time, the crowd — beyond the expectations of Paswan’s aides and much larger than anyone can remember here — knows there’s a difference. Now, Paswan represents the Janata Dal (United) and h
