The lathis seem to have become useless as gun-toting Central forces have swarmed the Bihar constituencies at the behest of EC adviser K J Rao. "No, lathis won't do. They'll only create a 'R(a)ow'," cried one RJD man, drawing a new strategy the 'ABC' (arms, booze and cash) of which stammered. Lalu nominee from Jamui segment, moving in his constituency with the "ABC", got hammered.

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, they say. But what was this? Nitish, pretender to the throne of Lalu's wife, was getting bouquets and garlands. "No flowers, say it with 'gamchhas'," Nitish chided. His followers were foxed. "We are going to war and he is sulking at the loss of railways," thought aloud one, disagreeing with the towel war cry.

It was not right to chant 'gamchha' to Lalu's 'kulhad' mantra, he thought. Lalu wanted to help potters; Nitish perhaps intends to prop weavers. "Nitishji is just aping Laluji," nodded another in agreement. The 'gamchha' after all serves to bathe, wipe, wash and wear. It is also a first aid, always there to tie a wound.