After bringing in former Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi under the anti-Nitish umbrella, the BJP is likely to enter into an “understanding” with expelled RJD strongman Pappu Yadav and field a record number of Yadav candidates to corner Nitish-lalu combine in the upcoming Bihar polls. BJP sources said the party may field nearly two-dozen Yadav candidates in the fray this time In 2005 Assembly polls, the BJP fielded 10 Yadav candidates and seven of them won.
In 2010 again, the party fielded 10 Yadavs and eight of them were elected. “This time we could field at least two-dozen Yadav candidates,” said a senior BJP leader, claiming that of late a section of the dominant OBC caste is veering towards the party. The BJP leadership feels that making a dent in lalu Prasad’s Yadav vote-bank is imperative to win the battle of Bihar despite the fact that representation of Yadavs in the State Assembly has declined in successive Assembly polls in the last two decades. During the last four Assembly elections in the State from 1995 onward, the number of Yadav MlAs stood at 86, 64, 54 and 39.
However, this is the first time in 20 years that lalu and Nitish have joined hands, and this could make the Yadav vote a crucial factor in deciding the outcome. The BJP is counting on two well-known Yadav leaders — its former State party chief Nand Kishore Yadav and Ram Kripal Yadav, MP, who was the right hand man of lalu Prasad untill the 2014 lok Sabha polls — to woo the Yadav voters. The party hopes that Pappu Yadav could majorly divide the Yadav votes in Madhepura, Purnia, Supaul, Saharasa and Araria regions. In these five districts, Yadav have an overwhelming presence.
The BJP does not want to enter into direct alliance with Pappu Yadav for two reasons. First, Pappu Yadav’s controversial past could blunt the edge of BJP’s attack on Nitish that by aligning with lalu Prasad he has paved the way for return of Jungle Raj-II. Secondly, the business community and a major section of the upper caste have no love lost for the Mahabali Yadav leader.
In such a scenario, the BJP could face backlash from these section if it enters into any direct alliance with Pappu. Sources said that the BJP could encourage Pappu Yadav to field influential Yadav candidates in the Kosi-Seemanchal region with the sole aim of cutting into the vote bank of Nitish-lalu combine on select seats. Pappu could also rope in those RJD leaders who will be denied seats by the RJD and turn rebel.
Sources said that the BJP wants to create a fissure among the Yadavs by highlighting the fact that Nitish Kumar was instrumental in ending the reign of lalu Prasad and since then Yadavs have remained on the margin of politics and power in Bihar. The BJP feels that Pappu, a five-term MP, can be magnet for younger generation of Yadavs who are opposed to lalu’s declaration to pass on the leadership mantle to his son.
Incidentally, after his meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah, on Thursday when Jeetan Ram Manhji announced his decision to fight as part of the NDA, he asserted that during Nitish raj, Yadav were systematically victimised and thousands of them are still languishing in prisons across the State. BJP strategists feel that they can exploit the anti-Nitish sentiments among the Yadavs by utilising the services of Pappu Yadav, who has been touring the state and mobilizing his caste men.