For Ananth Kumar, Bihar Assembly polls crucial

NEW DELHI: The Bihar polls will be a high-stakes battle for Union minister Ananth Kumar who is in charge of the state. The chemicals and fertilizer minister heads Shah's team of central leaders for the elections, the fi rst since BJP was decimated in the Delhi polls this year. A Bihar victory will enhance Kumar's stock.

Kumar, party joint general secretary Saudan Singh, RS MP and BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan are part of Shah's 'Mission Bihar' team.

Party veterans say Kumar, considered close to L K Advani, should've been higher in the pecking order. They recalled Kumar being the 14th minister to be sworn in on May 26, 2014. This was seen as a scaling down of his stature. Observers attributed this to his closeness with Advani. Kumar, known for his organizational skills, seems to be back in favour. The proximity of the Bangalore South MP (since 1996) to RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, a powerful voice in the Sangh-BJP set-up, may have helped.