Patna, Jan. 12: The BJP has begun wooing the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) as it gears up for the ambitious 185-seat target it has set itself in Assembly elections this year.

It had won 31 of 40 seats in Lok Sabha election last year. To keep up the good show, it has started organising meets for different castes that come under EBCs, who comprise 120 castes and constitute around 28 per cent of votes in Bihar. In the last Lok Sabha election, the BJP was able to get a large chunk of their vote.

The state BJP unit today organised Dhanuk Sammelan, in which senior BJP leaders championed the cause of Dhanuks. In a packed hall comprising over 2,000 people, mostly Dhanuks (an agrarian community), at Ravindra Bhavan, BJP leaders claimed the party would address the demands of Dhanuks if it forms the government in the state.

Touching the core demand of Dhanuks, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said: 'If the BJP forms the government in the state, the government will consider the Dhanuks' demand for inclusion under ST category.' The Dhanuks play a vital role in over 40-50 Assembly constituencies in North Bihar. Sensing their strength, Sushil also warned them about the RJD-JDU alliance, reminding them like other EBC communities Dhanuks, too, had to suffer during the 15-year Lalu-Rabri tenure.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav said the party would, this time, give more representation to Dhanuks during ticket distribution and also install the statue of Ramfal Mandal - martyr and freedom fighter belonging to Dhanuk community - in the capital.

Nand Kishore said: 'The party has two MLAs from the Dhanuk community, but in the next Assembly election it would give more seats to Dhanuks and also install a statue of Ramfal Mandal, who scarified his life during the freedom struggle.'

With Assembly elections due in Bihar later this year, political parties will once again go on the offensive to woo different castes and communities in the state.

Towards this goal, they would go on organising anniversaries of important leaders. The BJP will organise socialist leader Karpoori Thakur's birth anniversary on January 23.

In order to woo the EBCs, it will hold a Karpoori Jayanti function on the roads as the state government has denied it the Miller School and Veterinary grounds.

The BJP on Monday submitted a memorandum to the district administration, seeking permission to hold the rally on Beer Chand Patel Path. The party's national president Amit Shah will attend the function.

Later, on February 3, the party is going to organise Ravidas Jayanti.

Sources said the BJP wooing different castes assume importance as on Sunday at meeting with state executive committee BJP national president Amit Shah gave a target of 185 seats to saffron party in state.