The BJP would flag off its poll campaign in Bihar on April 14 when it organises “a massive rally” of party workers at ‘Gandhi Maidan’ in Patna. After the unexpected Delhi poll debacle on February 10, the BJP leadership has decided to set off early for the Bihar legislative Assembly elections. The current tenure of the State Assembly expires on November 29, this year, and the poll process is to be set in motion ahead of it.
According to sources, party president Amit Shah accompanied with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh would be on a two-day visit to the poll-bound Bihar where he would address “a massive rally” of party workers on BR Ambekar’s birthday- April 14. “A frontal offensive against the JD(U)-rule and its opportunistic ties with RJD is expected ..”, they said.
The party has “yet not decided” the issue of projecting its chief ministerial candidate in the State. The BJP has not reached a consensus whether to declare a CM face. Senior BJP leader and former Deputy-Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi in the JD(U)-BJP Government, is one of the front runners to be its chief ministerial slot.
Asked whether former Chief Minister Jiten Ram Manjhi, who broke away from the JD(U), would be inducted into the BJP, top sources maintained view on the issue is fluid.” Manjhi, a representative of ‘Mahadalit” caste in the State, is expected to throw in his lot with the BJP during the elections as against the emerging Nitish Kumar-lalu Yadav alliance, which includes the Congress party. Manjhi may also hold an election rally in Patna on April 20.
While Shah would mark the Ambedkar day by addressing BJP workers in Patna, RSS too is expected to hard sell the idea of integration of Dalits and their economic and social advancement in “Hindu society” from April 14 onwards across the country during the celebration of 125th anniversary of Ambedkar.
The ideas of the Dalit icon would be discussed and the Government would be sought to initiate new policies to ensure “justice” to socially weaker sections across the country. RSS network across the country would dilate on the issue at a number of functions, to be organised during Ambedkar’s birth anniversary celebrations, according to sources.