Training for party cadre
Having performed handsomely in the 2010 Assembly elections, what has been the BJP’s strategy to keep complacency at bay, particularly at the worker level?
The BJP is a party that believes in keeping its cadres mobilised round the year. Immediately after the Assembly elections, we organised a series of training programmes for our legislators and office bearers. The participants were given tips on how to keep the party workers mobilised. It has paid rich dividends. Soon, we are going to launch a membership drive. Moreover, the launch of Jan Chetna Yatra from Bihar has worked as a galvanising force for our workers who have done a marvellous job in making the Bihar leg of the rath yatra a success.
What’s next on your agenda?
While attending workers’ meets in different parts of the state, I came across a very disturbing fact. The number of female Dalit and Mahadalit workers was found to be abysmally low. I took it up as a challenge and have launched some special programmes to address this issue. Separate meetings are being organised for female workers to motivate them to become financially independent. The party has also hosted a series of feasts in Mahadalit-dominated localities to come closer to the community and it has paid rich dividends.
Aim to uplift Mahadalits
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| Food for thought: CP Thakur attends a Mahadalit fest in Patna. Telegraph picture |
The BJP has always claimed that it dissuades from caste-based politics but its recent move to penetrate the Mahadalit community appears to be a departure from its stand. How do you justify it?
This move has to be seen differently. Mahadalits belong to the marginalised section of society and as a political party it is the duty of the BJP to address the issues concerning the people of this community. Our move should be seen in this light. We have also asked our workers to motivate Mahadalit families to send their children to schools.
What is the BJP’s stand on a virtual ban on the use of photographs of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in Bihar?
There is some confusion on this front but the issue is not as big as has been projected so far. I can assure you the confusion would be resolved amicably.
‘Dal leading state alliance’
There is a general perception that despite being a national party, the BJP is playing second fiddle to the JD(U), which is a regional party. What is the reality?
I fail to understand the reason behind such a perception. The NDA government is being led by a JD(U) leader and by virtue of being the head of the government he has every right to take decisions. There is no question of playing second fiddle. The BJP is very much comfortable with the present arrangement. The party has improved its performance in successive elections. Moreover, Nitish always consults his cabinet colleagues before taking any major decision. He has also started holding special janata darbar every month where all NDA workers are given the opportunity to air their views.
Has the BJP developed any mechanism to assess the performance of its ministers?
Earlier, we had planned to develop such a mechanism but owing to some reasons we have not been able to put it in place. I strongly support the idea and would raise this issue in the meeting of the core committee. We, however, would keep one thing in mind while assessing the performance of the ministers - they will have to overcome the damage done during the 15 years of RJD rule in the state before showing something on the achievement front.
Drive against corruption
How does the BJP Bihar unit plan to keep its workers mobilised on the corruption issue?
The Bihar unit has been raising the issue of corruption for the past one year. We started this campaign even before Advaniji planned his yatra from Bihar. We have organised meetings across the state to keep our workers mobilised on the corruption issue. Now that the Bihar leg of the Jan Chetna Yatra is over, we intend to organise meetings of party workers at the block-level on the corruption issue.
‘Expansion call with Nitish’
The BJP hasn’t yet exhausted its quota in the Bihar council of ministers? What are you doing about that?
I will not say there is no pressure from the party to exhaust the quota, but the expansion of the ministry is the discretion of the chief minister and everyone should understand this. We, on our part, would soon discuss this issue within the party. The discussion would not remain confined to the ministerial berths, rather we would also take up the issue of accommodating party workers in different boards, corporations and committees. The party would let the chief minister know about its stand, leaving the matter for him to decide
Politician with a healing touch
About Dr C.P. Thakur…
Born in 1931 in Muzaffarpur district, Dr Chandreshwar Prasad Thakur started his career as a cardiologist and went on to do resear-ch work in kala-azar treatment.
He was awarded the Padma Shri for his exemplary work in the field of medicine. Interested in social work since his early days, Dr C.P. Thakur never planned a career in politics. It was rather a telephone call from late Rajiv Gandhi that made him foray into politics and he won the Patna parliamentary seat in the 1984 elections.
His association with the Congress, however, came to an end when the party showed inclination towards Lalu Prasad. Dr Thakur, who was opposed to the idea, joined the BJP in 1991 and since then has been associated with the party.
At present, he is a member of the Rajya Sabha. Dr. Thakur was given the coveted post of Bihar BJP president in April 2010, six months ahead of the Assembly polls. But he passed his first test handsomely, as the BJP went on to win 91 of 102 se-ats the party contested in the polls.
Next week
in ‘Hard Talk’ with The Telegraph: DM Diwakar, director, AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies Readers can send their queries at ttbihar@abp.in
