Across party lines, damaads (sons-in-law) are giving sleepless nights to many political heavyweights in Bihar.
While Anil Kumar Sadhu has revolted against his father-in-law Ram Vilas Paswan, Lalu Prasad’s son-in-law, the grandnephew of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, has said he will campaign for his grandfather in the elections. Mulayam’s party is contesting the elections separately.
Similarly, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son-in-law Devendra Manjhi has revolted against him as he was denied a ticket. He wanted to contest either from Gaya or Aurangabad. But Manjhi fielded his son Santosh Kumar Suman from Kutumba constituency. Sadhu virtually burst into tears on television after being denied the ticket. He has reportedly contacted Pappu Yadav, who, after rebelling against RJD, has formed his own Jan Adhikar Party. It is being speculated that Sadhu will join Pappu’s party or will contest as an Independent. He was also president of the Dalit Sena. But after his revolt, Ram Vilas Paswan has dissolved the entire unit.
Chirag Paswan, Ram Vilas Paswan’s son, said: “Jijaji is elder to me. This is a family matter and I think senior members of the family will sort it out. I have nothing to say on it.”
Asked about Lalu’s son in-law campaigning for Mulayam, RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said: “The fact that he is not bringing family relations into politics should be an eye-opener for other parties, where sons-in-law are fighting for tickets. Political ideology should be kept separate from family ties.”