Terming the move "politically motivated", RJD national spokesperson Shyam Rajak alleged that by doing so the Nitish government would set a wrong tradition. "Whether in the textbook or not, no one can delete the identity of Laluji who was born in a hut representing deprived classes and from there achieved a commendable social status due to his own effort", Rajak justified the reference to Lalu in the book along with Karpoori Thakur and Bhola Paswan Shastri.

He also pointed out that the book fulfilled the NCERT criteria allowing states to incorporate 20 per cent of the text subjects, which are local to the state and "inspire" students. And whatever might have been the consideration that guided the Nitish government to make the textbook "free from Lalu", the move to replace the RJD boss with Baba Jyoti Phule has not gone unnoticed.

Beyond Lalu bashing, the move was also claimed to be linked to keep the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in good humour in view of the possible reorientation of forces before the next Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.

Incidentally, NCP chief Sharad Pawar of late had inducted suspended JD (U) leader Upendra Kuhswaha as the Bihar unit president of his party.

It may be noted that due to the last minute persuasion by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the NCP had withdrawn its candidate in favour of the RJD nominee at the just concluded Bikramgaj Lok Sabha bypoll, which was retained by the NDA by winning the seventh bypoll in a row in the last two years of the Nitish rule in Bihar. A split UPA is always an advantage to the NDA in Bihar.