NEW DELHI: Congress did not react to the Bharat Ratna for backward class leader late Karpoori Thakur, raising eyebrows given that the party has made caste census a flagship issue of its campaign in last few months.
While there was no official reaction from the party till late Tuesday night, senior office-bearers did not post on the social media on the issue either.
The award has created a stir in Bihar politics. Chief minister Nitish Kumar welcomed it as a fulfilment of his old demand and RJD leader and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav retweeted his 2019 post in which he had raised the demand for the highest award for Thakur. RJD MP Manoj Jha said the establishment was compelled by a surge in “Bahujan” sentiments, as “they” were scared by the caste census and then by the hike in quota quantum.
However, the third pole of the Bihar ruling coalition, Congress, was conspicuous by its silence. Many wondered if the party was worried that the award could be a precursor to BJP weaning away JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, given his political history of switching camps.
Top Congress leaders dismissed such concerns about JD(U) in the wake of the award for Thakur. But partymen in general were not certain about Kumar not charting a new course in general given his frequent outbursts in the INDIA alliance and the persistent speculations in Bihar circles.
While there was no official reaction from the party till late Tuesday night, senior office-bearers did not post on the social media on the issue either.
The award has created a stir in Bihar politics. Chief minister Nitish Kumar welcomed it as a fulfilment of his old demand and RJD leader and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav retweeted his 2019 post in which he had raised the demand for the highest award for Thakur. RJD MP Manoj Jha said the establishment was compelled by a surge in “Bahujan” sentiments, as “they” were scared by the caste census and then by the hike in quota quantum.
However, the third pole of the Bihar ruling coalition, Congress, was conspicuous by its silence. Many wondered if the party was worried that the award could be a precursor to BJP weaning away JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, given his political history of switching camps.
Top Congress leaders dismissed such concerns about JD(U) in the wake of the award for Thakur. But partymen in general were not certain about Kumar not charting a new course in general given his frequent outbursts in the INDIA alliance and the persistent speculations in Bihar circles.
