Rally no 242: Elder Brother Lalu finishes marathon on his second coming

ARARIA/PURNIA: As sun sets in Purnia in its polytechnic college ground, Lalu Prasad Yadav ends his marathon Bihar election campaign here with his Rally Number 242 on Tuesday.

He cannot contest or become CM but what many in Bihar see as his second coming, 67-year-old Yadav has gone the whole hog in these elections.

The elder brother of the alliance with Nitish Kumar has done more rallies than any other leader in these polls, including even Kumar who completed his 220th rally in Darbhanga as curtains went down on the long and bitter campaign on Tuesday ahead of last phase polling on November 5. The only NDA leader who comes close to Lalu's scorecard is Sushil Modi who has done nearly 190 rallies and road shows in these elections.

Bihar was swamped by nearly 2400 political rallies in these elections, including nearly 900 rallies by a galaxy of BJP leaders and 20 Union Ministers. RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha told ET that at 242, it's a record number of rallies by Yadav in any election. "Almost all constituencies were covered...many even twice. Lalu Ji did want to leave any stone unturned as he sees this as a crucial election. He was in great demand and people wanted to hear him," Jha said.

Lalu is in his trademark element at rallies on his last day as well - ET attended his two rallies in Araria and Purnia - as he claims his reliable sources have told him that RSS is going to sack both Narendra Modi as PM and Amit Shah as BJP President after they lose Bihar on November 8. He adds that RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is firm on his statement to review reservations and what Modi or Shah offer as clarification has no meaning. The Purnia rally is a surprise addition to his nine rallies of the day as he tells the crowd there was "lot of demand" for him to come to Purnia - there is a woman congress candidate of the Mahagathbandan from this seat. Muslims and Yadav's throng the crowd -- "he is our saviour from Modi," says Bashiruddin Ahmed.

Both Nitish and Lalu began their rallies on September 27. Lalu has held 8-9 rallies daily with only a three-day break -- one on Dussehra and a two day break on October 31 and November 1 as constituencies of his sons went to polls on November 1. Nitish, who held one rally on September 26, had held 5-6 daily rallies subsequently with a day-and-half break on Dussehra eve. Lately, the Chief Minister also ramped up his campaign - like holding eight rallies on Monday. "The PM has done 17 rallies in last one week in Bihar. He was forced to compete with ferocity of Lalu and Nitish campaign," a CM aide told ET. Those in the BJP camp laugh at such claims - the crowds in Modi's 30 rallies in Bihar outnumber the combined crowds in the 462 rallies by Nitish and Lalu, they say.

Lalu rounded off the day with a press conference in Patna saying: "I am relaxed. I bowed before my helicopter as I got off it today. Great Victory is ahead of us".