RS elections: Paswan gives in to Lalu

The LJP, meanwhile, succumbing under Lalu’s pressure politics, has agreed to field Shabir Ali in place of party leader Ranjan Yadav, Lalu’s one-time closest friend who has now turned hostile.

The LJP had made up its mind to field Yadav and the NDA parties had agreed to transfer their surplus votes to ensure his victory.

According to reliable sources, Paswan changed the plan after Lalu got Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to intervene into the matter.

Lalu had blamed Ranjan Yadav of being hand-in-glove with the NDA parties in the state. Lalu agreed to “sacrifice” his claim for the second seat in favour of the LJP with the condition that anybody other than Ranjan Yadav should be a candidate.

Lalu’s move against Ranjan Yadav centres on the fact that the latter is engaged in a campaign to turn the Yadavs away from Lalu through his “Yadav Jagran Manch”.

Also, Lalu seems to be preparing the ground for securing Paswan’s crucial support in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Lalu had contested the last general election in alliance with Paswan’s party and grabbed 22 out of 40 seats in the state. During Government formation, however, Paswan fell out with Lalu after being denied the Railway ministry.

Thereafter, he went all out against Lalu and declared equidistance from both the RJD and the NDA. Lalu is now desperate to rope in Paswan as he is doubtful of repeating his past poll performance.

Apart from succumbing before Lalu’s pressure tactics, Paswan has also failed in selecting the candidate. Everyone was stunned when the LJP announced the name of Shabir Ali — a virtual “political non-entity’’ — on Wednesday night.

Shabir Ali, in his forties, is known more as a man engaged in the construction and hotel business in Mumbai. His name also figured in the Gulshan Kumar murder case, but was cleared later. He has hobnobbed with Lalu’s RJD inthe past too.