Ever since party’s split with the BJP in Bihar on June 16, the JD(U) seemingly has been pushing hard to keep party workers’ morale high in view of the coming general elections. The party think tanks led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had chalked out a comprehensive three-level plan of workers’ meet in presence of senior party leaders in every constituency but the meet often ended with blows, fisticuffs and clashes among the party cadre.
In such a meeting at Mahnar High School in Hajipur on Sunday the party workers fought in presence of party leaders and Ministers like Bhim Singh, Gautam Singh and Praveen Amanullah. Supporters of two district party leaders clashed with each other on the question of addressing the meet first.
“For about half-an-hour there was complete commotion and blows were exchanged among the JD(U) workers in full view of public and the senior party leaders”, said Ramashray Singh of Mahnar. “It’s a great embarrassment for the party leaders present on the occasion”, he added further.
later, the party workers’ meet had to called off in haste as a Minister reportedly left the venue in a huff after the clash broke out among the partymen. Earlier, a week back, there was a similar situation at Katihar party workers’ meet when supporters of local leaders exchanged fisticuffs and blows with each other in presence of senior party leaders, Ministers and flashing cameras.
Senior party leader and Minister PK Shahi, Bijendra Yadav and others were present on the occasion and they remained a mute spectator for over 30 minutes when their party workers indulged in raining blows at each other. later, while putting brave face the party leaders tried to downplay the incident saying it was nothing but the act of overzealous party workers.
The second tier of the party workers’ meet ended on Sunday with body blows and clashes at Mahnar. The last leg of the meet, said party leaders, would kick off after a week. Political observers of the State confirmed to The Pioneer that such incidents of violent clashes of the JD(U) party workers were reflection of growing resentment and political ambition of them and “its spiralling out of Nitish Kumar’s control”.
“Such incidents are earning bad reputation for the party and its leader Nitish Kumar. Sooner it will be checked the better it will be for both,” said political observer NK Choudhury. Party insiders too have told The Pioneer that Kumar himself has taken such incident on a serious note and has issued some stern directives to those “overzealous” party leaders and workers. “The purpose of party meet is to make workers aware of party’s plan and strategies for the forthcoming polls in the State”, said a JD(U) leader.