BJP set to revamp party leadership in Bihar
RJD, Congress and Let parties join the one-day ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by trade unions, shouting slogans against the ‘anti-worker’ and ‘anti-farmer laws’ of the Centre
After emerging as the single largest party in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the recent Bihar Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) is all set to overhaul the leadership with a new team of leaders in the state.
The NDA government came to power in Bihar with a clear majority in the assembly elections as against the Opposition Grand Alliance.
The new NDA government under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar includes two Deputy Chief Ministers, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, for the first time in the state.
The BJP’S Sushil Kumar Modi was made the Deputy Chief Minister and worked as a close aide to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the previous NDA government in the state.
But this time Modi has been replaced by two Deputy CMS Tarkishore Prasad, a BJP MLA from Katihar, and Renu Devi, a legislator from Betiah.
The NDA secured 125 seats in the recent Bihar Assembly elections of which the BJP won 75, JD-U 43 and four seats each were won by NDA allies — Hindustani Awam Morcha ( HAM) and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). The party is now planning to revamp the leadership by replacing the old guard with a young team of leaders.
Apart from Modi, Nandkishore Yadav, who was the road construction minister in the previous NDA government, and Dr Prem Kumar, agriculture minister, have been sidelined.
There was speculation over Yadav being elected as speaker of the Bihar assembly but BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha’s name was floated and he was eventually elected Speaker on Nov.25.
A BJP leader on condition of anonymity said “change is the golden rule in politics,” hence the refurbishing at the helm.
It is being claimed that with this reshuffle in the party leadership, the BJP will have a major say in the Nitish’s government which was earlier not possible when Modi was the deputy chief minister. The second rung of leadership in the BJP will also emerge stronger in the state.
BJP leaders claim that women voters in Bihar played a major role in the NDA coming to power. This, they say, is the reason that a woman has been given the post of deputy chief minister.
BJP Bihar Spokesperson Nikhil Anand said, “BJP is a democratic party. By giving chance to new faces in party leadership, our party has made it clear that any ordinary worker of the party can come up the ranks on their own. The BJP is not owned by any family and is not remote-controlled by a few people unlike several opposition parties. The party does not function as per the wishes of any one family. No one can tell who will be the next president of the BJP. From an ordinary polling booth worker to the top leaders in the party, anyone can become the president and the prime minister of the country.” Meanwhile, the nationwide strike by trade unions impacted Bihar as well on Thursday as supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Let parties marched on the streets of Patna.
The RJD joined the one-day “Bharat Bandh” called by the central trade unions as party workers blocked roads in Vaishali district.
They even brought buffaloes and catle to block the road and lit “diyas,” causing traffic jams on the Muzaffarpur-hajipur road.
The RJD workers raised slogans against the “anti-worker and anti-farmer laws” of the Centre. The impact of the nationwide strike was also seen in Gaya where the working of the banks was affected.
The RJD and Let workers also blocked roads and raised slogans against the central government in Begusarai. Farmers also joined the strike called by 10 trade unions against the policies of the Centre.
In Patna, agitators assembled at BSNL Rblock roundabout and Income tax roundabout, disrupting traffic. They were contained by local administration and the area was vacated.
Similar situation also prevailed in Arrah, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Purnea, Betiah, Begusarai, Gaya, Jahanabad and Kaimur.
Patna DM Kumar Ravi said: “We have deployed adequate police force at strategic locations to avoid untoward incidents.” The agitators claim that they are protesting against the policies of the Centre as it is privatising all entities.