PATNA: A large number of party leaders and workers gathered at the Patna airport and welcomed RJD chief Lalu Prasad on his arrival from Delhi on Wednesday evening.
Lalu is in Patna for the first time after getting bail in the Doranda treasury case of fodder scam and the CBI raids at different locations associated with him and his family members recently. His eldest daughter and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti accompanied Lalu. His elder son Tej Pratap Yadav received them at the airport.
Sitting on a wheelchair, Lalu did not interact with the media. Apart from Tej, RJD senior leaders Shivanand Tiwari, Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Shyam Rajak were present at the airport.
Sources said Lalu had been especially brought to Patna by his daughter Misa, who is expected to file her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha seat on Thursday. After her nomination, the picture of the second RJD candidate will become clear. A senior leader said three names were doing the rounds, including former RJD MLA and Madhubani based Faiyaz Alam, someone from late MP Mohamamd Shahabuddin’s family or RJD leader Faisal Ali from Sheohar, who had unsuccesfully contested the last parliamentary election. In fact, Faisal even accompanied Lalu from Delhi and was sitting with the RJD chief at the 10, Circular Road bungalow on Wednesday night. “Nothing can be said at present. Let the official announcement be made,” said an RJD leader on the second party candidate for the Upper House.
Meanwhile, a large number of party workers gathered outside the 10, Circular Road bungalow allotted to Lalu’s wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi. Many were waiting to have a glimpse of Lalu, but were not allowed inside.
RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said the arrival of Laluji raises the spirits of party workers as well as the senior leaders. “He is our patron and his arrival definitely brings happiness. The party gets energized when he is around,” he said.
