Lalu’s desperation to secure the over 15 per cent Muslim vote share in Bihar is understandable as reports from the ground indicate that Nitish Kumar has succeeded in winning over the sympathy of a large chunk of Muslim voters — particularly backward Muslims who constitute 85 per cent of the total minority population in the state.

The state Government is even taking the credit for the compensation package declared by the Centre for the Bhagalpur riots victims, claiming it had repeatedly demanded it.

Lalu too is trying hard to impress upon the Muslim voters that he got then the economic package. “When we were in the state, we had made a similar demand before the then Vajpayee Government, but it was turned down. Nitish Kumar does not have the moral right to take the credit for it since he too was in the Government then,” Lalu said.