JNU’s student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar may have claimed multiple times that he’s not keen on a career in politics, but his meeting with Lalu Prasad Yadav and other political leaders in his hometown in Bihar has got many saying that Kumar’s just making an empty claim.
Kanhaiya visited his hometown Bihar for the first time since being released from jail, and had the red carpet laid out for him by the Nitish Kumar government. He was escorted by policemen at Patna airport and moved with a convoy in the state capital.
‘Shame’: BJP on Kanhaiya’s grand Bihar welcome: Kanhaiya was escorted by policemen from the Patna airport on … https://t.co/B9hg5shtL0
— Sahil (@Kaaala_Khatta) April 30, 2016
On Saturday, the research scholar met both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav – both staunch opponents of Narendra Modi and the BJP. Given how Kanhaiya has been relentlessly criticising Modi, the Sangh Parivar and the BJP, it wasn’t surprising that the leaders welcomed him like a hero.
But, it is this one image that is ultimately defining his Bihar visit.

The image is cropped, but it appears that Kanhaiya is touching the feet of former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, whose political image is marred by his conviction in the Rs 23 billion fodder scam.
Not surprisingly, the image riled up many on Twitter who aren’t fans of Kanhaiya’s political sloganeering.
The reactions followed, many of them hilarious
#Kanhaiya collecting Azadi from underneath Lalu’s feet https://t.co/iNNZF9NbZV
— United Hindu Front (@__UFH) April 30, 2016
Kanhaiya Kumar striking at the root of Corruption in India. pic.twitter.com/D0cGOAr7Gj
— Sumit (@_RKSumit) April 30, 2016
JNU, cleaning corruption by touching Laluji’s feet. And the background chorus of Azadi, azadi azadi… pic.twitter.com/aeBSCIAijh
— हम भारत के लोग (@India_Policy) April 30, 2016
Kanhaiya seeking azadi at Lalu’s feet while his fellow comrades at JNU are bringing red revolution on Labour day… https://t.co/yt25sl2Alx
— Saurabh Jha (@saurabhjha12) May 2, 2016
Wake upto pictures of Kanhaiya touching Lalu’s feet. Going back to sleep isn’t a bad idea.
— Jaidatt Udiyavar (@udiyavar) May 1, 2016
The image reminded some of Kejriwal and Lalu’s famous hug…
Yes but the warmth which these pics of Kanhaiya have with ‘honest’ Lalu is unmatchable.👍 https://t.co/vy14wr5EL2 pic.twitter.com/WYKHGf3I4U
— Pakhi Shukla (@pakhishukla21) May 1, 2016
What is with Lalu, he attracts revolutionaries from Kejriwal to Kanhaiya Kumar and discredits them!
— ShakeChilly (@ChillyShake) May 1, 2016
kanhaiya, for all his BS, ends up seeking the blessings of Laluhe is a better kejriwal than kejriwal himself
— TheFrustratedIndian (@FrustIndian) May 1, 2016
Kejriwal is the most worried man today as he has been, replaced by Kanhaiya as a national symbol of Nautanki…
— Mayank Jain (@mayankjain100) May 1, 2016
After lies, Modi-hatred, accusations of attacks & nautanki, Kanhaiya took one step closer to becoming next Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/zczM83c9g4
— Aladdin (@Alllahdin) April 30, 2016
How exactly is Kanhaiya Kumar new hope? (If the falling at Lalu’s feet pic is true)
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) May 1, 2016