New Delhi

It is not easy to stay in power for 15 long years: Lalu Prasad

"I want Nitish to show results; he played into the hands of communal forces"

New Delhi: Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad said on Wednesday that he had his own doubts about the claims by Bihar chief minister-designate Nitish Kumar of providing good governance and improving the lot of the people in 90 days.

Mr. Prasad said his party would offer "constructive support" to Mr. Kumar for any step aimed at improving the condition of the poor. "Three months is not enough. Let him take six months or one year. I want him to show results," he told a news channel. He was happy with Mr. Kumar's ascent as he considered him a "younger brother" who contributed to his rise in the Bihar polity. However, he was sorry that the Janata Dal (United) leader had "played into the hands of fascist and communal forces."

Asked if the Election Commission had deployed excessive police force, Mr. Prasad said, "Maybe there should be a survey of the poor people of Bihar who were prevented from entering the booths. Elected representatives were beaten up and even MPs were asked to stay away from their constituencies. Is it a good sign in democracy?"

"Let the euphoria subside. The people and the bureaucrats will realise the kind of people in the power corridor — Anant Singh, Munna Shukla and Rajiv Ranjan Singh." Rejecting the allegation that he always won owing to rigging of votes, he said if that was the case he wouldn't have lost the Madhepura Lok Sabha seat in 1999.

On "family rule"

On the accusation that he had imposed his "family rule," he said Bihar was such a volatile State that the people would "throw out" the rulers hurling unprintable abuses. "It is not easy for anybody to stay in power for 15 long years."

His wife, Rabri Devi, was not at all interested in becoming Chief Minister but accepted the responsibilities under compelling circumstances. "Everybody knows that she took over the job when I was to be pushed into jail. Her appointment was backed by a popular mandate."

"Is it not the beauty and strength of democracy that an `angutha chhaap' (illiterate) woman can occupy the highest post of the land," he asked.

Confessing that he was a "political animal," Mr. Prasad said he was in politics to serve people.

Not against Paswan

Though the Lok Jan Shakti Party had "eaten into the UPA's votes," he was not for LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan's ouster from the Union Cabinet. "The removal of Mr. Paswan from the Union Ministry is not my mission at all." — UNI

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