RSS caught in quota tangle in Bihar after Mohan Bhagwat’s re-marks

Patna,(BiharTimes): After the cancellation of permits to non-Marathi speaking auto-rickshaw drivers in Mumbai the call for review in the reservation policy made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has landed the BJP in trouble in the poll-bound Bihar. 

Though Union minister and a senior party leader from Bihar, Ravi Shankar Prasad, tried to distance his party and RSS came out with a clarification, BJP leaders in private are worried as like in the case of auto-drivers, it is the poor and backward vot-ers who may go away.

On both the issues the Bharatiya Janata Party appeared to be defensive as RJD and JD(U) have strongly criticized it. The alli-ance partners of the saffron party, that is, LJP, HAM and RLSP, too are feeling the heat as, unlike the BJP, they represent Dalits, backwards and the poor section of the society. 

The compulsion of RSS is that the demand of reservation for Pa-tiadars raised by Hardik Patel in Gujarat has strongly eroded its support base as they form about one-fifth of that state popu-lation and have been traditional supporters of the BJP.

It is the trend among several upper castes and affluent sections to demand reservation, such as Jats and Marathas––like Patels of Gujarat––which has put BJP in a difficult situation.

In this election atmosphere where Mandal is being revived af-ter Narendra Modi repeatedly evoked the backward castes the latest remark by the RSS chief may push many fence-sitters among backward castes and Dalits into the fold of grand alli-ance, feel Bihar-watchers.

While the parties of grand alliance, especially RJD, is least bothered about the votes of upper castes, it is coming out open-ly against the RSS chief and the step taken by Maharashtra gov-ernment recently.

The BJP, on the other hand, can not afford to lose the upper castes, while courting the backward castes. This tight-rope walking has created a big problem for it. While the party misses no opportunity to highlight the backward caste origin of Nar-endra Modi, the parent organization of the BJP calls for a review on the reservation policy.

As if that was not enough came the news that Shiv Sena would alone put up candidates in 150 seats in Bihar. No doubt Sena is no force in the state, and it contested election separately even in Maharashtra, yet it can not be denied that it may damage the prospect of NDA candidates as the Third Front may do in the case of grand alliance.

Several disgruntled elements and rejects from different parties get opportunity to throw their hats in the ring. Shiv Sena, Pappu Yadav’s outfit and Samajwadi Party are among them. They are all vote-katwas.