In Bihar, Shah battles quota and discontent

BJP hopes Modi will counter the Lalu-Nitish duo on reservations

Its overt confidence aside, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership is increasingly nervous about the outcome of the Bihar polls after some recent developments that threaten to turn the tide against the National Democratic Alliance that it leads. The party, however, expects Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s two dozen rallies, first of which is scheduled for Friday, will convincingly bring back the political discourse to the issue of development to deliver it a comprehensive victory.

The developments that have marred the BJP's election campaign, which was otherwise going smoothly, are primarily four: the discontent among its leaders in Bihar over ticket distribution, rare and unexpected cohesion among its rival alliance, the party's seeming inability to exploit the "jungle raj" slogan against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks suggesting a review of the current reservation policy.

Both Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and Prasad have cornered the BJP on the comments by the RSS chief. BJP?s Nawada MP and central minister Giriraj Singh has had to announce that no 'savarna' or upper caste person will be the next CM of the NDA. Today, BJP President Amit Shah focused his meeting with party workers in Begusarai on Prasad's "blatant lie" about the reservation issue. He asked workers to knock at the doors of each house to highlight the BJP, as well as its earlier avatar the Jan Sangh's, commitment to reservations.

Prasad has persisted with his campaigning despite being booked for his casteist remarks. Today, Prasad said in Patna that he was ready to be 'hanged' but will not allow BJP and RSS to scrap quotas.

Shah also attempted, both in the meeting as well behind the scenes, to assuage the discontent that is rife in the Bihar BJP for the party having accommodated 'outsiders' in ticket distribution. "This is the time to forget who got ticket and who did not. You must leave all desires behind and work for the goal of party's win," he said.

Over a dozen of BJP's Lok Sabha Members of Parliament are upset at the ticket distribution. Arrah MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh having already made his anger public. According to sources, former deputy CM Sushil Modi called the shots in ticket distribution. Leaders like Ashwini Choubey and C P Thakur were placated with their sons, Arjit Shashwat and Vivek Thakur respectively, being given tickets. As many as 20 turncoats, including 10 sitting legislators of Janata Dal (United), have been given tickets.

Some in the party also believe the BJP was early in unleashing its "jungle raj" campaign against the RJD leader. The plank has not only lost its bite with the first phase still 12 days away but has also allowed Prasad to negate it in some measure by pointing out at his record as "one of the best railway ministers of India". The BJP is also surprised at the cohesion with which Prasad, Nitish Kumar and Congress have gone about their seat sharing as well as campaigning.

All hope now is on Modi's rallies.