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Finally, the firebrand gets his due
WSN Network

PATNA: George Fernandes was the great face of people's struggle against Indira Gandhi's emergency. Later, he emerged as a champion of many people's movements and a public spirited politician,. Gradually, his profile became only a face for the Janata Dal (United), but in the last Lok Sabha elections, he faced utter humiliation. His party denied him ticket, he fought as an independent, lost badly and was almost written off.

But in many minds, and in most hearts in civil society, a pain lingered. George was not treated nicely, everyone said, and it seems that the powers that be in the Janata Dal (United), including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar have seen the point.

Two months after George tried to shame JD(U) leaders by carryuing out a long walk to prove that he was in good health, the party last week rolled out the red carpet. George Fernandes has filed his nomination papers as a Rajya Sabha candidate backed by the party. Nitish Kumar was himself in attendance, receiving the ailing leader at the Patna airport. This is aimed at silencing accusations that the JD(U) had been insensitive in leaving the once firebrand leader out in the cold.

Nitish declared: “If I continue to have a say, George Saheb would continue to represent the party in the Rajya Sabha.” Fernandes will be elected unopposed as there is no one else fighting from the seat.

5 August 2009
 

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