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Journalism of Courage
The new president of the BJP’s Bihar unit, Samrat Choudhary, has his task cut out as the party central leadership has bet on the 54-year-old Kushwaha OBC leader to deliver in the 2024 Lok Sabha and the 2025 state Assembly polls. Choudhary, who is also the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state Legislative Council, speaks to The Indian Express on a range of issues, from his plans to take on major rivals like Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to his comparison with UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Excerpts:
I got a lot of motivation after meeting the PM. He asked me, “Majbooti se kaam kijiye (do your work strongly).” I used the occasion to invite him to Bihar. His message was: work hard to further strengthen the organisation.
The PM has been our cultural ambassador besides being the head of the government. I am just among one of his followers. I could not think of gifting him a better book than the Gita to thank him for the party giving me such an onerous and prestigious responsibility.
First, we have two public meetings of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Sasaram and Nawada on 2 April. Broadly, we have to work for expanding the organisation further and work towards realising our stated goals of “sabka saath, sabka vishwas“. Parties like the RJD attack the PM for no reasons. Our political opponents are perhaps discounting the fact that it had taken a lot of social churning for an OBC leader to become the PM, who is now well into his second term.
Though the party will sit together to prepare a broad framework in consultation with our central leadership, we are planning “one day, one district” to touch base and get feedback from grassroots to move ahead. There could be statewide tours as well. Besides, there will be tours of important central and state leaders across the state. I have started meeting all my senior leaders to take their suggestions and (ensure that we) work as a cohesive unit.
I simply want to know why the Bihar CM has not been able to do anything beyond “sarkari paisa (government money”. If one scans reports of Economic Survey of Bihar or annual budgets of the state, it is disheartening to see that our annual state revenue has just reached Rs 56,000 crore. Nitish Kumar is so much dependent on the central funds and has no out-of-box ideas for growth unlike his UP counterpart Yogi Adityanath, who has got investment of several lakh crores for his state.
I am a simple party worker who can never be compared to Yogi Adityanath ji, who is also a religious guru besides being the UP CM. As for aggression, it comes (to me) because of Nitish Kumar running out of ideas now. BJP has to work hard to ensure that lotus (saffron party’s symbol) blooms in Bihar now.
BJP gets its inspiration from Lord Ram. Jahan Ram hain, wahin Luv-Kush rahega (Where there is Ram, there will be Luv-Kush). Nitish Kumar has no votes now. He has little credibility left because of his flip-flops. As I said earlier, BJP believes in doing politics of inclusivity. I have been in politics for 28 years now. I am happy and proud that my hard work and persistence has been rewarded.
Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s only introduction is that he is son of Lalu Prasad. He has not gone through the dust and grind of politics to achieve what he has achieved. The way he calls RJD “his” party shows his mindset. As for allegations of political vendetta, legal procedures are being followed. He and his family members have to tell people how they acquired so much property.
They are leaders of their respective parties. It is up to the BJP central leadership to take a call at the right time on the possibilities of them being our allies.
