Integrity Score 160
No Records Found
No Records Found
No Records Found
In the winter of what has been a successful political career, Bihar strongman and RJD chief Lalu Prasad has come to confront his "Karunanidhi moment". Like the late DMK chief, Lalu has chosen his junior son Tejaswi as the heir apparent. But the transference of political legacy is turning out to be a rough and painful affair.
While succession plans of regional political satraps have succeeded in some cases (Navin Patnaik in the BJD or Omar Abdullah in the NCP), issues have turned messy with other political leaders. While the late Ram Vilas Paswan escaped witnessing the succession turmoil in his lifetime, his party split up between his son Chirag and brother Pashupati Kumar Paras, shortly after death. Akhilesh Yadav took charge of the Samajwadi Party at a time when his father Mulayam Singh Yadav was unwilling to exit, but had to confront serious resistance from uncle Shivpal. Even Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is facing a legacy battle mounted by sister YS Sharmila.
Lalu Prasad fathered nine children. Besides Tejaswi, at least two of Lalu's children hold political ambitions: Daughter Misa Bharti and Tejaswi's elder brother Tej Pratap. At this point in time, the big question is: Which among these will succeed Lalu as the RJD national president in November, when the elder Yadav's term gets completed? By all indications, Lalu himself - because of failing health - is not interested in continuing in the post.
As has been the trend, either the winner takes it all in a succession race. Or nothing at all. Tej Pratap is willing to accept his younger sibling as the party's chief ministerial candidate, but with a caveat: Wanting the post of party national president for himself. Misa Bharti too would demand her share of the cake, it is expected.
Tej Pratap may well be known as the "enfant terrible" of Bihar politics, but -if not handled with care - could well turn menacingly destructive. Does Tejaswi have the mental and emotional make up to fight and succeed in a family war? This remains an unanswered question.
Ends.