MY second Laloo experience happened at his residence in Patna. It was the results day for the 2009 General elections in May that year. Around 11.30 am results had started coming in, first as a trickle, then, in sometime, in a wave. It became clear that it was a Nitish sweep. Laloo himself trailed from both Chapra and Patna. As media presence built up and it became clear that there was no escaping it, the doors of Laloo – technically Rabri’s – residence were thrown open to waiting journos. There sat laloo in the open courtyard under a tin shade, in his white sleeves-with-pocket vest and a pajama as rustic as he has always been. Despite a politician’s practiced control of emotions, it was clearly not Laloo’s day. “Sab humko hate karta hai,” he lamented, almost womanly in his complaint to the present media persons. “All have ganged up against him,” was his theme thru the day. The trail in Chapra turned to a lead bringing some cheer amid general gloom, and once it became clear that Laloo would scrape through, a cavalcade was readied, and out he came in the finest white to leave for Chapra. Clutching at something was better than taking media’s barbs at home. His RJD managed three seats. From being a possible king-maker, he was reduced to an eager onlooker in a matter of hours. He was allowed on board the UPA-2 but without the freedom to choose aisle or window seats.
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