In a bid to make his “Chetawani Rally” on October 28 a big success, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday declared to reward party leaders who bring the biggest crowd to the rally.

“Jo rally me sabse jyada aadmi layega, usko cup diya jaayega (Those who bring the largest number of people to the rally will be rewarded with a cup),” Lalu declared in his inimitable style before leaving for Madhepura on Monday to lay the foundation for a railway coach factory. He, however, did not clarify as to how he will measure the crowd brought by individual leaders.

His arch rival Nitish Kumar too engaged in sarcasm when asked for reaction over Lalu’s “desperation” to pull a big crowd at the rally. The chief minister said he had asked the administration to extend all due assistance to Lalu’s rally. “He asked for the open ground near the railway station to house those coming for the rally and I immediately asked the administration to give it. I also told the District Magistrate to communicate about plenty of snakes in the ground and make arrangements for enough anti-venom injections,” Kumar remarked with a mischievous smile. Kumar then added that his political rivals had every right to hold rallies and demonstrations against him.

However, he charged that the Railway Minister was transforming official functions into RJD programmes. “He is inviting all former elected members of his party to official railway programmes but does not even bother to extend an invitation to the state Government,” Kumar said.

... contd.