Laloo's Litmus Test

Yubaraj Ghimire, Y.P. Rajesh February 14, 1996 00:00 IST Laloo's Litmus Test -0001-11-30T00:00:00+05:53

When Janata Dal (JD) president S.R. Bommai and leader in the Lok Sabha Sharad Yadav stepped down because their names figured in the infamous Jain diaries, it was more a tactical move on the part of the party than a reflection of the Janata Dal's emphasis on moral values. The new incumbent, Laloo Prasad Yadav, was just what the beleaguered party needed at this juncture.

 With elections barely three months away, the high-profile Bihar Chief Minister was perhaps the party's best bet to turn its fortunes around. Laloo has his job cut out. He not only has to sort out internal bickerings in the party but also has to consolidate the fragmented third force in order to take on the Congress and the BJP.

It is a task that will test the new JD president's political acumen. But he seems equal to the job and has adopted a realistic approach to the problems at hand. According to him, corruption or hawala may not be important enough to decide the outcome of the next elections. "

Ke achhuta hai (Which party has not been tainted by the hawala scandal)?" he quips...