•VANDITA MISHRA: You started your political career when you became MP in 1977. You have been part of major changes and upheavals in the country—the Janata movement, the Mandal movement, the arrest of L.K. Advani during the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. You ruled the state for 15 years and have been at the Centre too. Now, for the first time since 1990, you are not in power, either in the state or at the Centre. How does it feel?

•LALU PRASAD YADAV: For 20 years, I tasted power and bore many responsibilities in the central and state governments. I am not in the government today. The reason is clear: this is the era of coalition politics and it will continue to be so. Those who dispute it do not understand politics. In this election, the coalition of my party Rashtriya Janta Dal and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party could win only four seats. In Delhi, if you do not come with the strength of large numbers, there will be no one to greet, no one will recognise you even if you were friends earlier. People will welcome you with bouquets and flowers if you have the numbers. I don’t. So I am feeling relaxed at the moment—and I am not saying this defensively, I genuinely mean it.

I come from a humble background where people cannot dream of doing what I have. It is only because of our democracy that I have been able to reach where I am today. Since 1977, I don’t think there is a politician in this country who has received more love, affection and the support of the people than I have. As for the elections, my vote base declined by 20 lakh. Polling in Bihar was between 25 per cent and 30 per cent and a maximum of 40 per cent. Seventy per cent of the voters were turned away from the polling booths. Both the government and the Election Commission are equally responsible for this low turnout. I raised my voice against the voter I-card but nobody listened to me. About 70 per cent of voters do not have I-cards and thus could not vote.

... contd.