Minister’s remarks highlight race for Dalit face in JD(U)

Patna: JD(U) minister Ratnesh Sada’s alleged verbal instruction to his supporter to burn the effigy of his cabinet colleague Ashok Choudhary over his purportedly “degrading treatment” during a party event on Sunday has triggered a storm within the party, which is trying hard to put up a brace face ahead of the next year’s Lok Sabha polls. Both the ministers belong to the Dalit community and were given the responsibility to draw crowds of their community for the ‘Bhim Sansad’ in Patna.

In an audio that has gone viral on social media, SC and ST welfare minister Sada is heard telling his supporter from Munger district over phone to burn the effigy of Choudhary. The minister was apparently aggrieved over the way he was asked by Choudhary publicly to leave the mike midway through his speech during the ‘Bhim Sansad’, a rally by the members of the scheduled castes. Sada was not allowed to complete his speech.

 “We all feel very shocked over the way you were dragged away (from the podium) and made to sit,” one of his supporters is heard telling the minister over phone. The minister promptly reacts, “Ham jo kahte hain karo na! Uska putla dahan karo, virodh me likho (do just what is being told to do. Burn the effigy of Ashok Choudhary and write against him (to the party leadership).”

Sada didn’t pick up the calls despite repeated attempts to verify his audio clip.

However, rural development minister Shrawan Kumar said the party would try to resolve the issue soon if any such thing has happened. “Such a remark by any minister or people’s representative is not fair, yet we will resolve the issue through proper manner,” Shrawan told the media on Wednesday.

Sada, a three-time MLA from Sonbarsa in Saharsa district, was sworn in as a minister in June this year apparently to repair the damage caused due to the sudden resignation by Santosh Kumar Suman of HAM(S) from the Nitish Kumar cabinet. Suman was holding the same portfolio and both the leaders come from the same Mahadalit community.

Analysts say the incident highlights the mad race among the Dalit leaders in the JD(U) to claim themselves to be real face of the community and move closer to Nitish after the recent Bihar caste survey report, which revealed the SC/ST community comprised more than 21% of the state’s population, reports said.

In Dalit outreach, JD(U) to hold Bhim Sansad todayJD(U) will hold a ‘Bhim Sansad’ in Patna ahead of Lok Sabha polls to mobilize dalit support. The event is expected to attract over one lakh people, boosting Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership. Recent caste survey revealed SC/ST community comprises 21% of Bihar’s population. JD(U) aims to project itself as their benefactor and save the Constitution and democracy. BJP is also organizing outreach programs to target various caste groups.105502415

In Dalit outreach, JD(U) to hold Bhim Sansad todayThe JD(U) will hold a “Bheem Sansad” to mobilize support of the dalit community for the next year’s Lok Sabha polls. The event aims to strengthen the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar. The recent caste survey found SC/ST population to be more than 21% of the state’s total population. This finding could be a game-changer in the upcoming LS polls if the dalit class supports JD(U). Nitish has worked extensively for the dalit community in the past 18 years.105507024

JD(U) to organise ‘Bhim Sansad’ to counter BJP’s poll campaignJD(U) to organize “Bhim Sansad” in Patna on November 26 to mobilise Mahadalits and counter BJP’s poll campaign ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Minister Ashok Choudhary leads the campaign to connect Mahadalits with the party. JDU aims to tap into the substantial voter base of around 20 percent of Mahadalits through the event. Mahadalits have the potential to become a significant political force in Bihar. Combination of Mahadalit castes and Lalu Yadav’s renowned MY equation could impact election results.105445630

Courtesy : TOI

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