Yadav, RJD and Bihar after Lalu's conviction in fodder scam

With the conviction of Rastriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Yadav in a 950 crore fodder scams, the political scenario seems to be taking a new dimension in Bihar. Mr. Yadav, who is still a main force in the Bihar politics, has been sent to jail after a special CBI Court found him guilty of corruption charges. Mr. Yadav initiated his political career under the guidance of freedom fighter Jai Prakash Narayan, won the Patna University Students Union election and got elected as a president and subsequently became the youngest Member of Parliament at the age of 29 in 1977. He was the first student leader who was awarded ticket to contest parliamentary elections from Chhapra in Bihar after withdrawal of emergency. 

In 1990 he assumed the post of Chief Minister after wiping out the congress party from power. He did no developmental work but emphasised on social engineering and formed a MY (Muslim-Yadav) alliance. With the help of this alliance he won 1995 and 2000 assembly elections. In 2005, the BJP-JDU alliance routed his party out from power and established a rule of law with development and social justice. Nitish Kumar-led alliance carved out a group of non powerful extremely backward castes by providing reservation in panchayat polls, bifurcated dalits into two parts by keeping Paswans community out of ambit of maha dalits group. Even while Mr. Yadav was in political exile, the Yadavs’ support base did not erode and stood behind him strongly. Nitish Kumar tried every possible way to bring back this community in their own fold but failed in doing so. As far as forward community is concerned, they are remain at Hidutva side, i.e. BJP, from beginning along with business class. 

After Lalu's conviction, who is to look after the party affairs, would it be family centric or established leaders will take it forward? That is a big question ahead of every political pundit. Would the Yadav community follow other non Yadav leaders or the party will disintegrate further? 

Recently, Rabri Devi, wife of RJD Chief said that she along with her son would run the party, but the question here is, will the senior leaders follow the dictates of mother-son duo or will they

search new opportunity? It is very sure that the Yadav community would oppose to follow any other's leadership, except Lalu's family. Tejashwi, considered to be the next apparent heir of Yadav's dynasty lacks experience and political gestures. Raghuvansh Singh, who is next in line to Lalu in party affairs, has aspiration to lead the party along others but he is reluctant to work under mother-son duo leadership. 

Yadav community, which is politically one of the most powerful castes, has a dark light ahead of upcoming polls. For them, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has become a hard core villain, who politically tried to appease them since he came in power. Bittu Yadav, an IAS aspirant, said they would vote RJD if the party

projects Tejashwi as Lalu's successor else he will look at other non-Nitish options. While on the other hand Sumit Yadav, 45 who lives in village expressed his desire to vote for RJD at any cost as he has no issue with who leads the party. Earlier, such kind of situation was never witnessed. They didn't have any issue with leadership but now the scenario has changed at the ground level. 

Narendra Singh who is at second position after Nitish Kumar in his government asked good leaders of RJD to join JDU and in return the government will offer some lollypop posts or perks. But till now, no leader has shown any inclination towards this offer but still more than 6 months are left in election to take place. 

Conclusively, one can say that once the voice of yadavs', lalu , along with other of his accomplice is now heading towards oblivion. With this development, every party in state trying hard to bank upon this vote bank while RJD trying to intact it. Now, the time will tell, where they will head.