PM Narendra Modi invokes former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to woo Brahmins, minorities

DARBHANGA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to be making an attempt to encash the goodwill enjoyed by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee among Brahmins and minorities as well as other sections of the society on the last day of campaigning for Bihar elections, as he invoked the party veteran’s name in two of his public meeting in the eastern part of the state.

While Darbhanga has a sizable population of Maithili Brahmins, the presence of this community is high in Purnea as well. There is a lot of disenchantment among Brahmins in Darbhanga and adjoining districts with the BJP as the party has allegedly ignored this community while choosing candidates. Modi ostensibly talked about Vajpayee to keep the Brahmin support intact and not drift to the Grand Alliance.

Both Darbhanga and Purnea have an overwhelming Muslim population too and Modi may have tried to reach out to them as well by taking the name of Vajpayee — the BJP’s most liberal face.

At a public meeting in Purnea, Modi said Nitish is no longer privileged to have the blessings of Vajpayee as he has left the NDA fold and joined hands with Lalu Prasad.

While some thought this was an aberration, Modi took Vajpayee’s name in Darbhanga a few hours later. Addressing an impressive rally here, Modi said: “This is my last programme. I am glad to be in the land that Vajpayee loves so much...”