Hail quality, not caste

Socialist leader and former chief minister Karpoori Thakur remains the hottest icon among his followers and those who opposed him two decades after he passed away. The JD (U), RJD and BJP celebrated his birth anniversary with much gusto and turned the city green with hoardings and posters of the late leader. Thakur was known for his integrity and honesty but that is not the only reason why the political parties celebrate his birth anniversary with such enthusiasm. Thakur belonged to the Extremely Backward Castes (EBC) — a section that plays a crucial role in today’s electoral arithmetic. “It is ironic. Leaders who abused and ridiculed him, both in private and public life, are now singing paeans to him. All of them have forgotten that Thakur was known for his honesty and integrity. They only remember he was a member of the EBC,” said an octogenarian leader, who was a close associate of Thakur.

Star trick

While the debate on casteism in state politics rages on, officials inside Beur Central Jail declared it had definitely declined on the jail premises. “Previously there used to be different kitchens for inmates from different castes. Inmates of one caste used to stick together and clashes used to break out often between two castes. But lately the clashes have lost their caste colour,” said a jail official. However, the latest problem for Beur Central Jail is not caste, but two of its star inmates — dreaded criminal Indu Singh and former MP Pappu Yadav. “Their tantrums are worse than any caste clash. Their support base cuts across caste lines inside the jail,” said another official.

Cost cut

T he BJP MPs and MLAs are a dejected lot these days because they have been asked to foot the bill for bringing workers to the state-level party workers’ meet at Gandhi Maidan. Many leaders claimed that the party headquarters had not given them a single penny for transporting the workers and that they might have to bear the cost of hiring buses for the purpose. “From where will we get the money? Our government has even abolished the local area development funds,” said a BJP MLA. However, the party insisted each MLA’s future would depend on the crowd they bring to the meet. Most of the MLAs are planning to ensure the participants leave on the day of the rally in sharp contrast to the RJD days when the crowds to Gandhi Maidan were not only treated with transportation to Patna, food and lodging, but were also entertained with dance girls. “But this is going to be a small budget rally,” said another BJP MLA.

Wanted Nitish

The JD (U) ministers appear to be losing their interest in holding janata darbar at the party office, a step ordered by chief minister Nitish Kumar for the redressal of grievances of the party workers. The ministers were asked to take turns in holding janata darbar at the state party office every Monday. Recently, several ministers skipped the darbar, leaving the party workers in the cold. The state party president, Basisth Narayan Singh, defended the ministers. He said the ministers occasionally skipped the janata darbar as they were preoccupied with other work. However, the party workers feel it will need the “intervention” of Nitish to bring the ministers to darbars.