BJP’s Rudy claps at Nitish bashing

PATNA: In what could strain the relations between JD(U) and BJP, former Union minister and BJP national spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy lent rhetorical muscle to a caste rally organised in Patna on Tuesday against chief minister Nitish Kumar.

The rally, held ostensibly to mark the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, was organised by Nitish baiters, Prabhunath Singh and independent Lok Sabha MP from Banka Digvijay Singh. Although BJP did not issue any directive to its leaders not to participate in the function, there was an unstated understanding that its leaders would stay away. The event was aimed at taking potshots at the chief minister and his government.

Mr Rudy’s participation at the function is certain to anger the BJP leadership. BJP leaders here say that Mr Rudy was seeking to enhance the cost of his “neglect”. A Rajnath Singh groupie, Mr Rudy fears that he would be left out when BJP chief Nitin Gadkari forms his new team. Besides, his Rajya Sabha term is coming to an end this year.

Mr Rudy’s participation is certain to give a handle to JD(U) to beat BJP with. With elections to the state assembly slated to be held this year, Mr Kumar can be expected to use such “hostile actions” by BJP leaders to undermine its say in the ticket distribution. Moreover, it is a big embarrassment for the BJP as it has assiduously stayed away from caste rallies.

At the function, Mr Prabhunath Singh employed caste rhetoric to the hilt to attack the Nitish Kumar government. About half a dozen NDA ministers and legislators belonging to the Rajput community were present at the function. Speaker after speaker attacked the Nitish Kumar government though the NDA ministers avoided making any direct criticism of the government.

It was, however, Mr Digvijay Singh and Mr Prahbunath Singh who led the attack. “This is only my warning and if the government does not mend its ways, we will intensify our fight in the days to come,” Mr Prabhunath Singh thundered amid cheers from the assembled crowd. He alleged that the government was ignoring the forward castes with “whose support Nitish Kumar was enjoying power”.

On his part, Mr Digvijay Singh questioned the “inclusive politics“ of Mr Kumar and said the government must reach out to all sections of the society. “But the government is targeting only some sections for welfare schemes. I am not opposed to what the government is doing for ameliorating the lot of the mahadalits and extremely backward castes. But the other neglected sections should also be taken care of,” he said.

A don-turned-politician, Prabhunath Singh, has several criminal cases against him including the murder of a legislator. Though he has been acquitted in some cases, it has also led to the charge that he was acquitted due to the blessings of ruling establishment with which he was associated. The former MP decided to open front against Mr Kumar following his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.