Bihar divided, Lalu bolstered
When Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000 and Shibu Soren (in the picture) made its chief minister, it gave Lalu two leverage points.
One, he now had a new excuse for the underdevelopment of Bihar: that the mineral and natural resource rich part of Bihar had gone to Jharkhand.
Two, he now had an ally in power in a neighbouring state. An ally who was as against the BJP as he was.
Lalu had himself promised the creation of Jharkhand. When it eventually saw light of day, he turned it around to his benefit, as the wronged party. Just another example of the political acumen of a man who most of educated India looked down upon.
Also Read: 'Naxals do what they like at booths'