Patna,(BiharTimes): Five top Bihar BJP leaders, who have been championing the cause of Narendra Modi for the last several years skipped the Muzaffarpur rally of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
They are party’s national vice president, Dr C P Thakur, former ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey, Giriraj Singh and Ramadhar Singh and Darbhanga MP and former cricketer, Kirti Azad. In fact none of these five figured in the party’s posters too.
Incidentally all these leaders belong to the upper castes who are upset over the party’s alliance with Lok Janshakti Party and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.
Though Dr Thakur did not comment on the alliance with LJP and RLSP he refused to give any specific reason for not going to Muzaffarpur. He said that he did not go for some reason. “Jayenge. Koi Khas wajah nahin hai”, (will go, there is no specific reason for not going), was how he reacted.
Former minister Giriraj Singh, who was present at the Patna airport to receive NaMo, said that he was not going to Muzaffarpur for some personal reason. When the media repeatedly pressurized him to give the reason he said that his brother met with an accident. “I am here to greet him because I could not go,” was how he added.
However, he said that “I am sure NaMo would certainly become the prime minister.” He said that he would contest election from Begusarai if the party gives ticket. He made it clear that he was not going to fight as a rebel if denied ticket.
Asked about his differences with Sushil Modi he said he would discuss it later.
Giriraj was present at the Patna airport both to receive and send off Modi but deliberately chose not to go to Muzaffarpur.
Former minister Ramadhar Singh, who has vowed to fight the official BJP candidate from Aurangabad, Sushil Singh, too was absent. He said that he would attend the Gaya rally of March 14 with two lakh supporters from Aurangabad. “Why should I go to Muzaffarpur where people from 16 districts would attend. I am concentrating on Gaya rally where people from eight districts would come,” he said.
Former health minister Ashwani Choubey and Kirti Azad too decided not to attend the rally for obvious reason.