Misa Bharti, 39, the eldest daughter of former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, is the RJD candidate in Patliputra Lok Sabha constituency.
A trained medical doctor and mother of two adolescent girls, she is contesting her maiden election against sitting JD(U) MP Ranjan Yadav and BJP’s Ramkripal Yadav, who was a top RJD leader till recently and quit because of her nomination. Speaking to ANAND S.T. DAS, an articulate Bharti says the RJD would win back the support of Bihar’s voters.
Q. You joined politics by landing an RJD ticket for the Lok Sabha polls and sparked off rebellion in the party. How does it feel to be seen as yet another political scion rising in the country?
A. I do not see why my candidacy should be seen that way. Whenever a capable, caring person with political understanding and potential for doing public good is fielded as a candidate, such charges are levelled mostly by vested interests. Neither my party nor my constituency’s electorate see me as a political scion.
Their faith in me fills me with a greater sense of responsibility. The so-called rebellion was going to happen anyway due to narrow self-interests. What else would make one choose a diametrically opposite political ideology overnight?
Q. Pitted against two veteran Yadav contenders in Pataliputra constituency, where do you see your chances as a debutant contender?
A. Although I am contesting my maiden election, I am no debutant in politics as I grew up seeing the political changes both in Bihar and the country from close quarters as a daughter of two former Bihar chief ministers. Politics is in my blood.
My first name is famously the acronym for Maintenance of Internal Security Act (Misa), for this law was used for my father’s arrest when I was born.
I am neither worried nor extra-careful due to the opponents in my electoral arena. I have full faith that I will win in Pataliputra, no matter what indications some people are reading and spreading for quite some time. When I go out campaigning and meet thousands of people these days, I know this even better. Hollow claims always have a limit for success.
Q. With the BJP talking of the Modi wave and Bihar’s ruling JD(U) banking on CM Nitish Kumar’s claims of “good governance,” what does the RJD offer to the state’s electorate?
A. There is neither any wave nor any miracles of good governance in Bihar, except hype on both fronts. After all, bubbles do last for a time before they eventually burst. Bihar’s people have realised in the past nine years that true socio-economic change does not come through relentless hype.
Sirf vikas, vikas ratne se vikas nahin hota hai. (Development does not happen just by chanting the word.) The RJD is a party that strongly feels for all sections of society, especially those still battling discrimination of many kinds, and the RJD is known for its unflinching commitment to social harmony.
Q. Won’t the RJD’s prospects be affected by your father and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s conviction in a fodder scam case and his being debarred from elections for 11 years?
A. Bihar’s people know in their hearts that my father became the victim of a deadly political conspiracy. The massive crowds gathering at his public meetings show how much the people still love him and what he means to them. He is the one politician who gave socio-political empowerment to a vast chunk of deprived people for the first time. He is the one politician who stood up against communalism without fear or favour. We have faith in the judiciary and I am sure he will be acquitted soon.
Q. Will the RJD ever succeed in erasing the “jungle raj” stain sticking to its previous 15-year rule of Bihar under your parents?
A. This phrase “jungle raj” was the creation of a certain section of vested interests to push a pro-people government out of power in Bihar. But much of what has happened in Bihar since the JD(U)-BJP government came to power has annoyed and saddened so many people. Corruption has broken all records and made the life of the poor miserable. Now the people see hope in the RJD and its current leadership.
Q. What do you plan to achieve as an MP, if elected?
A. My biggest ambition is to make sure that women and the youth participate more directly in development programmes. I want to make sure education becomes widely affordable and reaches across all social groups. I make no false promises to voters. I want people to smile. I want people to happily say that Lalujee ki beti (Lalu’s daughter) made this or that possible for us.
Q. What about the family feud between you and your two younger brothers being talked about after your nomination as the RJD candidate?
A. This is just another rumour being spread against the RJD to undermine the party’s high chances of success in these polls. There is absolutely no rivalry. Our family is together and the party is also together.
Q. How many seats out of the total 40 in Bihar do you think the RJD-Congress alliance will win?
A. Our alliance will definitely do very well and surprise the naysayers. I do not like putting a number to it.