There was more: At Asia’s largest cattle fair at Sonepur,in Saran district, another of Laloo’s possessions went up for sale. His horse. No, not because they did not see eye-to-eye as with his old friend Shivanand, but probably because Laloo does not believe in giving up on horse-trading.

Will he get his price? No one is sure.

Known for owning a number of animals as pets, Mr Laloo Prasad sent Pawan to the Hariharkhestra Mela a couple of days ago, sources close to the Railway Minister said.

It might be difficult for Pawan, who arrived at the fair at a time when the most horse-sellers had struck deals and left the place, to find a new master.

Pawan was taken to the fair four years ago but returned after no one paid up the price desired by the RJD president.

The price? Rs 1,51,000.

Cut to Mr Tiwari.

A confidant-turned-critic of the RJD supremo, he formally joined the JD(U) in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Mr Tiwari had resigned from RJD last Monday charging Mr Laloo Prasad with “favouritism” by promoting “family raj” in the party depriving genuine workers. He was also vocal against the brothers-in-law of Mr Laloo Prasad, Sadhu and Subhash Yadav, for running the party’s prospect in October-November poll.

Another senior leader and former minister in the previous RJD regime, Bhola Prasad Singh, too had joined the JD(U) today along with Mr Tiwari by spitting venom against Sadhu and Subhash Yadav.

For Mr Tiwari, who had quit the JD(U) to join the RJD in 2000 and was a former minister in Rabri Devi’s cabinet, it was a homecoming for him.

Soon after returning to the JD(U), Mr Tiwari said that after the February poll last year, which had produced a hung Assembly forcing another poll in October-November, Mr Laloo Prasad had turned down his proposal to support Nitish Kumar as chief ministerial candidate as both of them were part of divided erstwhile Janata parivar to isolate the BJP.

Mr Tiwari alleged that in the name of social justice Mr Laloo Prasad had tried to disintegrate society on caste and religion to rule Bihar.

He also charged the RJD boss with betraying his trusted ally, the CPI(M), at the just concluded Bhagalpur Lok Sabha byelection.

Welcoming Mr Tiwari and Mr Bhola Prasad Singh to the party fold, Mr Nitish Kumar described it as “homecoming”.

The question is: Will Pawan also find a new home?

Watch this space…