Lalu's buses to take on Nitish's cycles

The wheels within wheels of Bihar politics are turning with fresh vigour, courtesy Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad. Anirban Guha Roy reports.

The wheels within wheels of Bihar politics are turning with fresh vigour, courtesy Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad.

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The Lok Sabha MP from the Chapra Lok Sabha seat in north Bihar offered 57 free buses to schools and colleges in his constituency on Saturday.

The buses will be a big upgrade from chief minister Nitish Kumar's offer of free bicycles for Class 9 girl students from government schools across the state.

According to RJD sources, the former chief minister is planning similar offers in Vaishali and

Buxar Lok Sabha constituencies represented by party leaders Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Jagdanand Singh.

If Prasad is hoping to run in circles around Janata Dal (United) heavyweight Kumar and ride back to power in the state, he certainly has his irrepressible way of stating it.

"That’s the least I can do for my people, who are bored of Nitish Kumar's bicycle," he said.

"I am putting up Rs.15 crore for this plan."

Prasad has dipped into his MP local area development scheme kitty, which he has not spent for the last three years, for the buses.

RJD activists are relying on more such moves from their leader to end the party's dismal run. Prasad lost power in the state in 2007. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, RJD won only four of the 40 seats in Bihar.

In the 2010 assembly polls, the party bagged just 22 of the 243 seats.