Postmodern Indian politics creates new icons and unique temples. Its latest centre of pilgrimage happens to be Beur central jail, Patna. Ever since the numbers game hotted up in Bihar, nda and rjd leaders have been queuing up to pay homage at gangster Suraj Bhan Singhs cell, in the jail, to seek his help in wooing 11 independent mlas who are all criminals. Ultimately, the nda won over Bhan who is charged in 26 cases of murder, kidnapping and extortion.
The nda, which had gone to the polls on the issue of "jungle raj", saw no wrong in seeking the underworlds support. Bhan explained, with a measure of pride, why he backed Nitish Kumar, at a press conference: "To give a new direction to development in the state, which had come to standstill during the past 10 years of Laloo-Rabri raj, we have decided to extend our support to the nda." This was perhaps the first press conference inside the jail attended by two dreaded absconders Dhumal Singh and Sunil Pandey, both mlas.
With their support in great demand, the imprisoned crimelords had earlier in the week held several rounds of meetings with leaders from both sides. And they were given a new measure of respectability by both the nda and the rjd. "Theyve now become honourable members of the house so there is no harm in meeting them," is how Laloo Prasad Yadav explained his meetings with the ganglords. ndas Nitish Kumar also echoed that line.
Interestingly, when jail minister Saba Ahmad was caught meeting the dons by journalists inside the prison, he pleaded that he had come to upgrade Suraj Bhans jail category and Tewari, another criminal-turned mla as "both are now honourable members of the assembly".
Finally, the nda clinched the deal. According to insiders, the final agreement was struck over the telephone. Bhan carries a mobile phone even though its use is banned inside prison cells. Having extended support, the dons, it is learnt, would now want the new government to let them off in some of the more serious cases against them.
