BJP, JD-U shake-up caste sensitive

With elections in Bihar the next big thing on the NDA8217;s agenda, both BJP and JDU announced fresh appointments today, keeping in mind ...

With elections in Bihar the next big thing on the NDA8217;s agenda, both BJP and JDU announced fresh appointments today, keeping in mind both organisational needs and caste equations in the state.

BJP national vice-president Sushil Modi was shifted out of the centre to his home state, replacing Gopal Narain Singh as the state president. Modi8217;s entry was balanced by appointing C.P. Thakur 8212;a Bhumihar 8212; as chairman of the Bihar Election Campaign Committee.

In response to Thakur8217;s appointment, the JDU made a surprise announcement elevating general secretary K.C. Tyagi to the post of secretary-general.

Tyagi, relatively low-profile in the party so far, has had a long innings in the 8220;socialist8217;8217; stream of politics. He worked as secretary in the Lok Dal under Charan Singh, joined the Janata Dal under V.P. Singh, moved to the Samajwadi Party under Mulayam Singh Yadav, before joining JD U. Considered close to Sharad Yadav, he leads the group that wants to ensure the 8220;secular8217;8217; credentials of the JDU despite its alliance with the BJP.

JDU sources said one reason for Tyagi8217;s appointment is that though he belongs to UP, he is a Bhumihar by caste 8212; a powerful group in Bihar which the JDU does not want to lose to the BJP. Several rebel LJP MLAs belonging to the Bhumihar caste are expected to join the JDU soon.

The reshuffle in the BJP unit is part of the overall effort to build a 8220;formidable team8217;8217; to take on the Laloo Prasad Yadav-led UPA, sources said.

This team will comprise general secretary in charge of Bihar polls, Arun Jaitley, the newly appointed 8220;sah prabhari8217;8217; Uma Bharati, and an 8220;organisational trio8217;8217; in the state unit 8212; Sushil Modi, C.P. Thakur, and Radhamohan Singh, sources said.

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Modi and Thakur were chosen because neither will contest the Assembly polls and can devote all their energies to the campaign. Gopal Narain Singh 8212; who was appreciated for his hard work but lacked 8220;structured organisational skills8217;8217; 8212; is likely to be fielded in the polls, as he is considered a leading Rajput leader.

In fact, the choice of candidates as well as poll managers are being made with the caste factor in mind. The BJP wants to project a 8220;big leader8217;8217; in each caste 8212; Nand Kishore Yadav and Sushil Modi among the backwards, Chandramohan Rai and C.P. Thakur among the Bhumihars, Ashwini Choubey and Sukhda Pandey among Brahmins and Navin Sinha among the Kayasthas, a BJP leader said. As caste and not religion holds sway in Bihar, Bharati too will be projected less as a 8217;8217;Hindutva8217;8217; icon and more as a OBC leader.

PIL against Buta move to dissolve Assembly

NEW DELHI

: A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday against the Centre8217;s decision to dissolve the Bihar Assembly. The petitioner, Shiw Kumar Prasad Singh, termed the dissolution 8220;unconstitutional8221; and also sought a stay on any fresh election process in the state until his plea was disposed of. Meanwhile, MLAs belonging to the JDU, BJP, and LJP are also likely to move the Supreme Court later this week against the Bihar Governor8217;s decision to dissolve the state Assembly.