As Lalu in jail, Rabri in ‘Mother India’ role for Tejashwi

NEW DELHI: Not only Lalu Prasad Yadav but even former chief minister Rabri Devi is also not sweating it out to seek votes in favour of mahagathbandhan candidates in Bihar as she is keeping herself confined to her home in Patna. The reason behind Rabri Devi not joining campaigning trails is not that her husband is in jail; rather she is in a greater role of ‘Mother of Tejashwi.

Surprised! You need to be as Rabri Devi, who is not visible during campaigning time, get more active after the campaign ends. Rabri Devi, nowadays, is busy in giving final shape to campaigning strategies of the party --- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

According to family insiders, even prior to the announcement of Lok Sabha poll dates, Rabri was involved in making strategies of the RJD on the advice of her ailing husband Lalu Prasad.

“As the campaigning ends in the late evening, Rabri Devi sits for hours with all key leaders of the party, including Tejashwi Yadav, to review the progress of electioneering. She enquires in detail about the rallies held and proposed, candidates and seat-wise caste arithmetic, etc,” the insider said, adding that at the informal meeting issues like reactions of people, the strength of opponents, etc get discussed.

“As Lalu Prasad in jail, Rabri Devi is in her ‘Mother India' role and keeping a Hawkeye on the activities of her both sons – Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav – as well as party leaders. At the 'informal' review meeting, apart from taking stock of the day-to-day activities, she also sets the agenda for the next days of the week,” the family insider said, adding that the decision to not go again with JD(U) was taken by Rabri Devi itself and that too in the presence of Lalu Prasad.

“The ‘informal' meeting is mostly attended by RJD leader Manoj Jha, Tejashwi's political adviser Sanjay Yadav and senior party leaders,” the insider said, adding that Tej Pratap Yadav had participated in only two meetings.

Commenting on the development, political commentator Arvind Mohan said, “It's a part of their strategy to make the campaigning in Bihar a little slow. The purpose behind keeping a low decibel electioneering in the state is to restrict BJP from disseminating the issues of nationalism.”

“In the political rallies, the RJD or mahagathbandhan leaders are focusing on the issues of development, employment, unfulfilled promises of the Bjp-led government at the Centre while NDA is showcasing its nationalist agenda,” Mohan said.