In the backdrop of a touch and go electoral battle in Bihar, the BJP will scale up the birth anniversary celebrations of lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan by holding countrywide celebrations on October 11 with the Prime Minister, Central Ministers and top party leaders addressing public rallies, functions and hall-meetings in most of the major States and highlighting “ideological opportunism” of the rival groupings in the State.
As the first phase of poll in the State is to commence on October 12, the BJP would remember “contribution” of the freedom-fighter and Sarvodaya leader in galvanising the movement against the Congress’ rule at the Centre during the mid-70s.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be attending a major function at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, along with other senior Ministers including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and senior party leader Subramanian Swamy would also be present at the function which is expected to be attended by those who experienced jail terms during the Emergency, sources said.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would also be on the dais with the Prime Minister.
Over a dozen Central Ministers would visit different States on the occasion and recall “success” of anti-Congress struggle of Narayan which culminated in the overthrow of Indira Gandhi and ascendancy of first non-Congress dispensation at the Centre.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh would address a public meeting in Bihar. Similarly, programmes are being lined up for other Union Ministers by the Party head office here.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari would be going to Chennai and Power Minister Piyush Goel to visit Hyderabad. HRD Minister Smriti Irani may be sent to West Bengal to attend Narayan’s birth anniversary.
Venues and programmes of other Ministers and BJP leaders are being finalised by the BJP headquarters in-charge and general secretary Arun Singh in consultations with BJP’s State units. Party’s national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh has been put in-charge of Southern States to organise the birth anniversary there. BJP president Amit Shah may be in Bihar on October 11.
Narayan, who gave the slogan of “Sampoorna Kranti” from his home State Bihar, had attracted non-Congress Opposition parties and leaders during the 70s including lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar. BJP leaders are now accusing both the leaders of “betraying the legacy” of JP, as he was fondly called, by teaming up with the Congress in Bihar elections.