BJP claims disaffection in Bihar unit a minor affair

Party says ticket distribution has accommodated all castes and communities

There is disaffection in sections of the Bihar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after nearly a dozen party tickets for the state Assembly polls have been given to those who recently crossed over from rival parties Janata Dal (United), or JD(U) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). However, the party leadership claims the anger over the manner in which tickets have been distributed is far less on this occasion compared with the widespread infighting and presence of rebel candidates in the Assembly elections in 2005 and 2010.

The BJP had an alliance with the JD(U) in the two Assembly elections in 2005 and the previous one in 2010. In the 2010 polls, BJP candidates contested 102 seats and won 91. Now, the BJP is contesting 160 of the 243 seats. The remaining 83 are being contested by its three allies — Lok Janshakti Party (43 seats), Rashtriya Loktantrik Samata Party (23), and Hindustani Awam Morcha (20).

The BJP has announced 153 of its 160 candidates. Out of 91 of its sitting legislators, the BJP has denied ticket to 19. Half-a-dozen of these tickets have gone to relatives of these outgoing legislators. Some of those denied tickets have either met JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar or planning to contest as rebel candidates.

Several party workers from Bihar, who turned up at the BJP headquarters at Ashoka Road to meet party president Amit Shah on Monday, complained how nearly a dozen seats having gone to those who have recently crossed over to the BJP from other parties. Others are upset that 'winnable' seats were “surrendered” to allies.

“Party rank and file in several constituencies is upset. I was denied ticket from Kanti. The seat has gone to Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party,” said Hari Mohan Chowdhary, a ticket aspirant from Kanti in Muzaffarpur district.

Another disappointed ticket aspirant, also from Muzaffarpur, claimed dissension wasn’t as voluble on this occasion as relatives, particularly sons, of senior leaders such as Lok Sabha member Ashwini Choubey and Rajya Sabha member C P Thakur have been accommodated. “But this will hurt the party on the ground,” he said.

There is some anger at the party having ignored its traditional upper caste base to give tickets to candidates from other backward castes (OBC) and extremely backward castes (EBC).

Of the 153 seats announced until now, the BJP has given tickets to 62 upper castes (Brahmins, Rajputs and Bhumihars) and 64 OBCs (Yadav, Kurmi, Kushwaha and Baniya) and EBCs. In addition, 21 scheduled castes and one scheduled tribe are party candidates on reserved seats.

“What you call dissension is a sign of a vibrant political party that is on the road to winning the elections. Such fights don’t take place in parties looking at a defeat,” said BJP’s Bihar leader and former union minister Shahnawaz Hussain.

Party leaders claim these to be teething troubles. “In 2010, we spent nearly a week in placating our workers. This time, all have already headed to their constituencies to prepare for the elections,” said another party leader.

Caste wise break up of BJP's 153 candidates:

Brahmins 14; Rajput 30; Bhumihar 18; Yadav 22; Baniya 19; Kushwaha 6; Kurmi 3; Kayastha 3; Scheduled Tribe 1; Scheduled Castes 21; Muslims 2; Extremely Backward Castes 14