Elevation of Apna Dal MP from Mirzapur Anupriya Patel as Union minister of state has come as a setback for Bihar CM and JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar.
The move to elevate Patel is seen as a BJP move to preempt the plans of the Bihar CM who is also a Kurmi leader and has foraying into east UP districts dominated by Kurmis to expand his base.
The Janata Dal (U) was however quick to dismiss that there Patel's elevation will not impact its electoral fortunes.
"We are pursuing politics of social justice and not of any caste or creed. Its merely coincidental that the rallies so far addressed by Nitish Kumar were in eastern UP where Kurmis have a sizeable demographic share,’’ said state JD (U) chief Suresh Niranjan.
Niranjan said, "If you look at the positive side, both the SP and the BJP have rushed to protect their base among Kurmis after rallies by Nitish Kumar in Varanasi and Mirzapur.’’
The JD (U) pointed out, "First the SP got senior Kurmi leader Beni Prasad Verma back into the party after Nitish Kumar addressed a meeting at Pindra in Varanasi . later, the BJP followed suit by elevating Anupriya Patel as Union minister. Its good that Kurmi leaders were being given prominence by other parties due to JD (U)'s hard work in UP.’’
Niranjan said that the party was working for beefing its organisation in the state and had nothing to do with what other parties were doing.
"Nitish Kunar in the Phulpur rally will tell the people about the achievements of the Bihar government, particularly the immense positive impact on the society and economy of Bihar following the total ban on alcohol,’’ said he.
Meanwhile, with her recent elevation, first time MP Anupriya Patel (35) became the youngest minister in the Union council. However Apna Dal, founded by her late father Sonelal Patel split later with a major faction siding with her mother Krishna Patel. Incidentally, after her elevation, Krishna Patel has expelled Anupriya and called off her alliance with the BJP.