A makeover likely for Bihar BJP

Caste dynamics in Bihar state BJP is likely to undergo changes with RSS veteran Kailashpati Mishra moving out of the state to take over as G...

Caste dynamics in Bihar state BJP is likely to undergo changes with RSS veteran Kailashpati Mishra moving out of the state to take over as Gujarat Governor. With nearly half a century of political experience, pracharak Mishra wielded considerable influence in the running of state BJP. 8216;8216;His absence is sure to make an impact on the running of the party,8217;8217; an office-bearer says.

Mishra, not an admirer of BJP8217;s social engineering, had allegedly halted the expansion of the party among the backward castes. The district level leadership is dominated by the upper-caste 8212; of the 34 district presidents, 19 are Bhumihars. Mishra8217;s refusal to experiment with new social combinations has been cited as the major reason for the BJP8217;s confined base.

With Mishra8217;s exit, the party may try out new political equations. Organisational elections are underway. By July-end, district presidents will be elected and by September, the state president. Party leader Sushil Modi said most elections are through consensus. The RSS plays significant role in the process 8212; Mishra drew his power from the RSS.

Eighteen months ago, another veteran pracharak, Hareendra Pratap, was deputed to the party as organising secretary. In Mishra8217;s absence, he is going to be the RSS pointsman in the state unit and will remain an office-bearer in the new state executive.

State BJP leaders admit they are aware of the party8217;s limited social base and they are planning corrective steps. 8216;8216;In the ongoing organisational elections in the BJP, existing representation of different castes will change,8217;8217; said a senior leader. 8216;8216;We will induct substantially more number of Yadavs in the new structure,8217;8217; he said.

However, Mishra8217;s exit from the scene can cause problem for the party too. Till date, his unquestionable authority prevented internal squabbles growing to serious crises. With the father-figure gone, prodigals in the party may be tempted to test their strength more often. Kiran Ghai, spokesperson of the state BJP refutes this though. 8216;8216;Kailashpati Mishraji has developed a new leadership which is matured. His absence will be missed, but it will not affect the party8217;s functioning in anyway,8217;8217; she said.