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Ram Vilas Paswan upsets caste equations, Bihar leaders skip Modi rally - The Times of India
MUZAFFARPUR: A large rally in this north Bihar city famous for its luscious lichies marked a significant political realignment in the state as LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan shared the stage with Narendra Modi but it also saw an influential section of upper caste leaders unhappy with the alliance stay away as an expression of their resentment.
Four senior Bhumihar and Brahmin leaders, who've felt sidelined by recent developments, skipped the public meeting, making the Muzaffarpur show the first Modi rally that did not draw the entire rank and file of the party behind the BJP's prime ministerial aspirant.
Though they cited unavoidable reasons for not being present, the absence of BJP vice-president C P Thakur, deputy speaker in the Bihar assembly Amrendra Pratap Singh, as well as Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Kumar Choubey was a clear indication of the turmoil over the decision to ally with Paswan.
Thakur, a former union minister and state chief, was also miffed over his travel arrangements after he had been initially asked to accompany Modi in the Gujarat CM's chopper.
While they reluctantly accept that allying with Paswan would help the NDA nationally as an alliance capable to attracting new allies, these leaders are loathe to admit that the former minister can make a significant difference in Bihar. They insist that BJP has been too generous in offering seven seats to the LJP.
This section of BJP is also feeling left out of the decision making process and argue that the unstinted support extended to Modi by Bihar's upper castes, particularly bhumihars, needs to be acknowledged in the allocation of seats to this caste group. Although seat distribution is yet to get underway, the absenteeism on Monday is seen as a warning shot.
Bihar BJP leaders like former deputy CM Sushil Modi have strongly underlined the importance of Paswan's transferable vote that adds up to 3-4% and can help solidify the pro-Modi sentiment. These leaders have pointed out that Paswan's decision will help BJP reach out to sections outside the upper castes such as the most backward and even Yadavs.
Critics of the alliance feel Paswan was left with no options as he had not been able to benefit from any transfer of Yadav vote from RJD chief Lalu Yadav. But the flip side of the argument is that BJP hopes Paswan's defection will weaken Lalu and persuade some locally influential Yadavs to back Modi for PM.
Thakur has been open about his reservations and has said the BJP-LJP alliance is not in the interests of the saffron party. The BJP has agreed to give LJP seven out of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats.
While BJP leaders skipped Modi's meeting, Paswan lavished praise on the Gujarat CM saying there had been no communal disturbance in his state since 2002, whereas in Bihar it happened almost every month. Paswan had quit Vajpayee-led NDA in 2002 demanding Modi be removed as CM of Gujarat for the post-Godhra violence in which more than a 1,000 people had died.
Describing Modi as 'Vikas Purush', Paswan said Modi was destined to be the next PM. Paswan congratulated Modi in advance and said the entire country has accepted his leadership. "Modi was born in a poor family but developed Gujarat and would develop the nation, too," he said.
They are just B team as it became quite evident when they gave the ticket to the IAS officer who overturned the Khemka's decision on Vadra land deal.
don't miss that video.
