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New alliances likely at Laloo's daughter's wedding

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

After Mulayam Singh Yadav's son, it is now the turn of Laloo Yadav's eldest of seven daughters to tie the nuptial knot. The wedding bells will toll at Laloo's wife and chief minister Rabri Devi's official residence at 1, Anne Marg in Patna on December 10.

The marriage will not only see the coming together of two souls, but may just witness the emergence of new political alliances.

The bride, Misa Bharati, is a medical graduate, while the groom, Shailendra Kumar, is a computer engineer on his way to the US. Misa Bharati, in fact, topped the final year examination of the Patna Medical College last week sparking off student protests in the campus.

Though Misa is hardly a political being, she has been intrinsically associated with politics ever since her birth. And now her marriage may also end up becoming a big political event.

She owes her name to the draconian Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) promulgated by Indira Gandhi during Emergency. Laloo Yadav was among thousands of political prisoners thrown into jail all over the country during those days. Misa was born a few months after Laloo Yadav's arrest.

Though Misa has had no problems with her name, it has deprived her of one thing. Like other women she can't keep her age a secret.

When Laloo and Mulayam came close last year rumour mills was agog that two would soon become samdhis. However their separation ended the speculation.

The announcement of wedding had stumped many close colleagues of Laloo and Rashtriya Janata Dal legislators. None of them had any inkling about the marriage. Hero of many political conjugal, Laloo Yadav deftly and secretly negotiated her daughter's marriage.

Most of his close associates came to know about the wedding only from newspaper reports carried on December 3.

The work for sprucing up Chief Minister Rabri Devi's residence has begun in right earnest.

With Congress leader and former Bihar speaker, Radhanandan Jha, playing a good neighbour and RJD's national general secretary, Shivanand Tiwary lending a helping hand, the December 10 ceremony is likely to be an event to remember.

The list of invitees is long, in fact unending. According to one estimate almost 10,000 people are likely to attend. The President, the Prime Minister, Union ministers, state ministers and filmstars, all are likely be there.

But the invitation is likely to land some BJP bigwigs, especially Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in a bit of quandary. They have also been invited to December 7 wedding reception of the son of Bihar BJP chief, Nand Kishore Yadav.

If he attends the December 7 wedding, it would be a busy schedule for Vajpayee. For he is to chair a cabinet meeting on that day.

Besides, for reasons best known to Nand Kishore Yadav, he has also invited former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Kalyan Singh, who is likely to be expelled from the party soon.

Nand Kishore Yadav seems to have special fascination for expelled BJP leaders. Apart from Kalyan Singh, the baratis would include former state BJP chief, Tarakant Jha. Jha, arguably the longest-serving Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh man in the state, was expelled from the BJP early this January when he picked up a quarrel with Nand Kishore Yadav-Sushil Kumar Modi duo.

Some BJP leaders indicate that the prime minister may not attend the wedding of Laloo's daughter if he is unable to remain present on the December 7 wedding of Nand Kishore's son. Some others say he may not attend any of the two marriages as he is to attend the BJP rally in Patna on December 24 as well. However, Home Minister L K Advani is likely to turn up for both the ceremonies.

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