There is buzz in Patna that many leaders — including Upendra Kushwaha, Arun Kumar, and Pappu Yadav — are exploring their bargaining capacity by talking to both the NDA and the grand alliance. Whatever be the reality, it is obvious that many State leaders are inching closer to the mahagathbandhan
In Bihar, bizarre politics is playing out these days. Leaders, who were either with the BJP or in touch with the party till yesterday, are now talking to leaders of the mahagathbandhan. Central Minister Upendra Kushwaha has also reiterated his statement that kheer will certainly be prepared in Bihar, hinting that the rice of Kushwanshis and milk of Yaduvanshis will be mixed. He has clearly indicated that he would be going into an alliance with the RJD, which has the Yadavas and Muslims vote bank.
Kushwaha is said to be in talks with Lalu Prasad for six seats. If he continues with the NDA, this is certain that he won’t get more than two seats. Then there is the possibility of Nitish Kumar pushing him out of the NDA as well. That is why he has started alliance talks with Lalu, demanding six seats, and quite possibly, the deal will be settled on four seats. Senior leader and Vice-President of his party, Jitendra Nath, will address a Kurmi and Dhanuk rally in Patna on November 2. It must be noted that Nitish is said to be the leader of this very vote bank.
In the same manner, Arun Kumar, who had won the last election on Kushwaha’s ticket, is in touch with leaders of the grand alliance. Some time ago, Arun Kumar had met Amit Shah and Narendra Modi, with both asking him to stay in the NDA. However, Arun Kumar doesn’t see his future in the NDA. He will be showing his strength in Patna on October 28. Some time ago, the MP from Madhepura, Pappu Yadav, was talking to the NDA leaders. People said he and his wife, Ranjeet Ranjan, might fight as candidates of the NDA alliance. But recently, Pappu met senior leaders of the Congress. It’s noteworthy that his wife is an MP from Supaul on a Congress ticket. The MP duo is in contact with the Congress in-charge, Shaktisinh Gohil. There is buzz in Patna that all these leaders are exploring their bargaining capacity by talking to both sides. Whatever be the reality, it is obvious that many State leaders are inching closer to the mahagathbandhan.
FORWARD DY CM IN BIHAR?
The focus has shifted to forward politics in the only remaining fortress of Mandal politics ie Bihar. Nitish and Lalu, who have been doing politics in the State for 28 years, have now started adjusting themselves according to the new scenario. The BJP has been claiming it doesn’t believe in caste politics, but for the past two decades, it has been doing the same, and that is why the top leadership is from backward castes. This was perhaps the compulsion of all parties, keeping in mind the caste structure in the State. But now, the BJP has started wooing the forward castes. It was the Congress and RJD that had started forward politics, and then the BJP and JDU followed in their footsteps. Earlier, the RJD sent Manoj Jha to the Rajya Sabha and indicated that Tejashwi Yadav would not be playing the same politics as Lalu. He also supported the Congress candidate, Akhilesh Prasad Singh. After that, the Congress gave the party’s command in the State to Madan Mohan Jha. On October 21, Akhilesh Singh organised the birth anniversary of the first CM of Bihar, Shri Krishna Singh, in which Tejashwi also participated.
Now the BJP and JDU are following suit. Nitish has made Prashant Kishor the Vice-President of his party. Prashant is from Buxar and a Brahmin. Nitish has played an interesting game, in a way making Kishor his political heir. He has given a message to forwards, especially Brahmins, to connect with the JDU. There is a buzz that the BJP can propose the name of a forward Deputy CM to Nitish. The BJP is planning to project a Brahmin or Bhumihar face, so that it can stop its core vote bank from shifting towards either the RJD or Congress.
AJMAL’S ROLE CRUCIAL
The Congress has started talks for alliances in States before the Lok Sabha Elections. The party has made it clear that there would not be any national alliance and it would be decided given the requirements of the State. So, in-charge general secretaries of the party are talking about the alliance. It is being said that in-charge of Assam, Harish Rawat, has been discussing the possibility of a tie-up with State leaders.
The Assembly Elections in Assam are scheduled for 2021, but the Congress might go with Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for next year. Though this is also a fact that the Congress is eyeing all 14 seats of the State and is looking for candidates. Rawat claimed that earlier the party was in a position to win 11 seats, but now it can clinch all 14.
His claim comes after Ajmal’s statement that his party, AIUDF, would join the mahagathbandhan to stop the BJP.
It must be noted that despite the Modi wave in the last Lok Sabha polls, Ajmal’s party had won three seats. The Congress, too, bagged three seats. That is why Rawat and other Congress leaders are apprehensive that Ajmal might demand more than three seats. However, Ajmal also knows his position and might not ask for more than four seats. That is the reason why the Congress leaders are confident that there would not be any problem in taking Ajmal on board.
GAME-CHANGING CAMPAIGN
The BJP is in a new mode and is trying to reach out to every single voter rather than addressing the public en masse. This is most definitely a different approach. Before this, political parties addressed people in groups, which were either caste-based, religion-based, or region-based. Perhaps, this will be first time when individual voters will be addressed by a party. The BJP will start this campaign from Uttar Pradesh and it will spread to other States later. This is being said that PM Modi has decided to directly address the beneficiaries of the Central schemes. For this, teams are being made, which will go to each and every beneficiary and appeal to him/her to cast their vote in favour of the BJP.
Around 30 crore people are beneficiaries of one or the other scheme of the Central Government. In UP, where there are around 15 crore beneficiaries, the BJP has identified three crore houses whose members are said to be beneficiaries. It is being said that a lotus-shaped lamp will be lit on all these houses on Republic Day, and this campaign has been aptly named Kamal Jyoti Vikaas Abhiyaan. This can be a game changer in the election campaign. A visit by members of the BJP’s booth campaign committee to each and every voter will be more effective than campaigning by TV, radio, and other mediums.
