Ram Vilas stumping for BJP in Gujarat, will Nitish follow him?
Patna,(BiharTimes): First it was Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan who was on November 11 virtually air-dropped to campaign in Gujarat for the BJP. Two days later Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar predicted a comfortable victory for the saffron party in that western state. Perhaps he was hinting that he too can be used to campaign for the NDA.
Political analysts are surprised over the deployment of Lok Janshakti Party leader in Gujarat when he was left in cold during the Uttar Pradesh election campaign days. This was in spite of the fact that the state has 22 per cent Dalit population against just seven per cent in Gujarat. Besides, there was a veteran Dalit leader like Mayawati in UP.
“Does this suggest that the BJP is a bit nervous in Gujarat? Not only in Uttar Pradesh, even in his home state of Bihar, the BJP used him sparingly in the 2015 Assembly election. The entire campaign was spear-headed by Narednra Modi, who was assisted by the party chief Amit Shah,” said a political commentator.
Not only Gujarat has much less Dalit population, there may be little for a non-Gujarati speaking Paswan to offer in the state where the saffron party already has two towering personalities––Modi and Shah.
“If the Dalit voters are not listening to these two leaders––as it is being feared––why will they pay heed to Paswan on whom the BJP itself has not much faith,” asked a political observer.
The BJP is not only using the service of Paswan––if the LJP sources are to be believed––even his son Chirag Paswan, MP, is likely to address election meetings.
Similarly, Bihar chief minister has dropped enough indications as to where he stands, so far the Gujarat election is concerned. It is not yet clear as to whether Janata Dal (United) would be able to contest election alone as the issue of election symbol (Arrow) is still pending with the Election Commission. The Sharad Yadav faction of the party is already making claims over it.
Besides, the lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat has thrown his lot behind the Sharad faction making it difficult for the Nitish faction to contest on some seats.
Anyway even if the Nitish faction contests independely it would put up candidates in such a way as it would benefit the BJP, said a Gujarat watcher.
If the Nitish-led JD(U) does not contest, the BJP may take the help of Bihar CM. After all there are much social similarities between Kurmis of Bihar and UP with the Patidars of Gujarat. Patel is a common surname of Kurmis.
