In favour of a coalition

For the seven days Nitish Kumar was in power in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad Yadav's 1 Anne Marg residence in Patna was out of bounds for all except the legislators belonging to his party, its allies and parties that were exp ected to support it. Mediapersons and even important party functionaries were kept away from what was until then considered an open house. However, things were back to normal once the Ministry resigned. Laloo Prasad Yadav met a few mediapersons, after hi s wife Rabri Devi was sworn in Chief Minister. Venkitesh Ramakrishnan was in that group of mediapersons. Excerpts from the conversation:

How do you analyse the developments of the past one week?

Governor Vinod Chandra Pande committed a great mistake, a great constitutional impropriety. He had no business to invite the NDA to form the government and thus cause so much harm to the State. It was evident that the RJD was the single largest party and that it led the largest alliance. Before this episode I respected Pandeji as an intellectual. But he seems to have forfeited his intellect at the feet of RSS bosses. He violated every rule in the book. Sadanand Singhji had called him from New Delhi and told him that the Congress(I) supported the RJD. Rabri Devi and I met him here several times and told him the same. He did not care. The RJD had no alternative but to struggle against this unjust Governor and demand his recall.

As for the NDA, they called my government 'jungle raj'. They promised a mangal raj (welfare state). Was this blatant violation of democratic norms part of mangal raj? Is hobnobbing with criminals to stay in power mangal raj? It is ir onical that Laloo Prasad Yadav and his supporters are always called savages but the greatest injustice is done against them by the so-called civilised people.

Leaders of the NDA have been saying that Rabri Devi can also be thrown out of power. The CBI's request for the Governor's sanction to prosecute you and involve Rabri Devi in the case as a co-accused is apparently a step in this direction.

If they come here to play politics, I will throw the CBI out of Bihar. They are deliberately trying to harass my family and myself. They cannot fight straight and they use these below-the-belt tactics.

What kind of government do you have in mind - a single-party government with outside support or a coalition?

The RJD favours a coalition with the Congress(I), the BSP and the Left parties. The basis of the coalition would be secularism and social justice. We will rule for five years and provide great development to the State.

There is an impression that you have given up your opposition to the creation of Jharkhand in order to have your government in Bihar.

Where is the question of compromise? In democracy one has to learn the lessons people give you. I admit that I fought the elections campaigning against a Jharkhand state. But the people of that region did not give me the mandate. I have to accept it with humility. That is why I have said that I am ready for the creation of a Jharkhand state with 18 districts.

You had talked about taking action against your supporters who indulged in unlawful acts. How do you propose to go about it?

Last time, my opponents did not allow me to take proper care of the administration. They filed so many cases and caused legal wrangles that I could not concentrate on many aspects. Now as the president of the RJD I will carefully monitor the functioning of the government, point out deficiencies from time to time and generally improve governance. Law and order will be given top priority. A special task force will be set up to improve law and order. Those who commit crimes will be punished irrespective of their social standing and political colour.