With Bharat Ratna To Karpoori Thakur, Modi Eyes Nitish’s Vote Base

The richest, most crony capitalism-friendly prime minister of India Narendra Modi bestowing Bharat Ratna, although officially being awarded by the President, Draupadi Murmu, on the deprived socialist leader Karpoori Thakur has given rise to boisterous political chattering in Bihar. However, it has also put the political moves of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar under intense public scrutiny.

If Modi had really desired to honour a leader who tirelessly fought to empower the poor, especially the extremely backward castes, he would have done it just after coming to power. But he chose to identify with persons who somehow proved to be catalysts in promoting his own political interest. No denying that Karpoori Thakur deserved this honour well before C. N. R. Rao (chemist and professor) – 2014, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (cricketer) – 2014 and Pranab Mukherjee (politician and former President of India) 2019 were accorded.

Modi government has conferred Bharat Ratna on the socialist icon Karpoori Thakur, who implemented OBC quota in Bihar. Thakur’s quota policy, implemented in 1978, included a sub-quota for MBCs, quotas for women and economically weaker sections in 1978. While Modi honouring Thakur has come too late and is too little, the prime minister ought to realise that Karpoori has a much taller status and he did not require this award for boosting his image.

Thakur’s stint as CM is remembered for his two important decisions. First, in 1970, he enforced the total prohibition of alcohol in the state; and second, he implemented the recommendations of the Mungeri Lal Commission on quota for backward classes. This panel was a harbinger of the Mandal Commission. The Commission also suggested separate sub-category called Most Backward Classes. This category also provided the template for the “ati pichhda” plank built by Nitish Kumar years later.

Modi observed: “I am delighted that the Government of India has decided to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the great Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time when we are marking his birth centenary. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalized and a stalwart of equality and empowerment.” However, it cannot be denied that this delayed adulation is more politically motivated than a real sign of appreciation or acknowledgement on the government’s behalf.

Ironically, in his endeavour to identify himself with Thakur’s socialist credentials, Modi remarked: “Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur’s relentless pursuit of social justice created a positive impact in the lives of crores of people. He belonged to one of the most backward sections of society, the Nai Samaj. Overcoming numerous obstacles, he achieved a lot and worked for societal betterment.” But a closer look at the complement would make it explicit that Modi has not been honest in his observation. Instead of underlining the fact that he empowered the extremely poor and women, Modi tried to generalise his achievement.

The fact is Karpoori fiercely fought against the forces nursing rightist ideology propagated by the RSS and upper-caste landlords, who perpetrated worst kind of torture and repression on the poor, downtrodden, untouchables and proletariats. Karpoori Thakur became the chief minister of Bihar twice, but on both the occasions, RSS leaders manoeuvred to pull down his government.

Following the announcement, politicians across party lines hailed the decision to give the socialist leader India’s highest civilian honour. Nitish Kumar also greeted. But before expressing delight, they should have done some introspection and sought a reply why Modi announced this award at this crucial juncture, when the Lok Sabha election is just three months away. There is no denying that Modi was trying to play around with the emotions of EBC and poor people.

Politically, Nitish and Lau Yadav would have to appreciate Modi’s move. But they are the ultimate victims of this action of Modi. Their eulogy of Modi will simply confuse the people of state. Modi’s decision will invariably unsettle the INDIA parties, which raised issue of a caste census in recent months. The Mahagathbandhan even went upto increasing the reservation percentage. For Modi, this is a strategy to diffuse the tumult of a Nitish’s masterstroke to put Modi on a losing wicket.

Undeniably, Modi’s decision to honour Karpoori Thakur is a power move to weaken the electoral consolidation of OBCs and MBCs [most backward classes] in Bihar in a situation where the RJD and the JD(U) contest the Lok Sabha polls together. Modi’s move would have adverse impact on Nitish’s strategy to create a ‘Maha Dalit’ class in Bihar. This he had resorted to prepare his own support base. With RJD having a strong Yadav-Muslim support base, Nitish desperately needed to have a base on which he could fall back. Now Modi’s latest move primarily targets Nitish’s core base. It is quite significant that Modi took this step only after Nitish declared the findings of its caste survey, which pegged the state’s total backward class population to be around 63%, with OBC comprising 27% of the total and MBCs about 36%.

With RSS taking command to rally the Dalit and EBC behind the BJP, Modi can feel assured that he would gain from his move. With a weak state leadership, the central BJP leadership, especially Modi and Amit Shah, have chosen to directly reach out to this huge electorate base by conferring this award on Karpoori Thakur. This is the part of their design to expand in Bihar and other Hindi-speaking states, particularly UP and MP for consolidating OBC and EBC population.

In the recently-held assembly elections to Chhattisgarh, MP and Rajasthan, the Dalits and EBCs had sent clear signal of their shifting allegiance. Taking a cue from that change, Modi has intensified his efforts to win over these people. Incidentally at his Ram Janmabhoomi speech, Modi referenced to Sabari and Nishad Raj to identify with Adivasi and OBC communities.

The political circle, especially some INDIA leaders nurse the view that it was at the behest of Nitish that Modi honoured Thakur. Per sources, the decision was taken after Nitish’s meeting with the Governor Rajendra Arlekar, which lasted for nearly an hour. In fact, his meeting the Governor has given rise to political speculations. It was during his meet at Raj Bhawan, that Nitish talked to Modi and after that the award was announced.

Apparently this does not sound politically correct. Nitish could have talked to Modi from anywhere. However sources say that Arlekar, an old friend of Nitish, had taken the initiative. Irrespective of the honesty and openness of the news, it has caused immense damage to the personal image of Nitish. Not only the political circles even in the social and academic circles are quite angry with Nitish. They have their valid argument, if Nitish is not inclined to cross over to NDA, he must categorically deny it, instead of allowing himself to be used by BJP, giving opportunity to mainstream media to malign him.

What has further complicated the political situation and questioned Nitish’s credibility is his refusal to join Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on its entering Bihar. He may rightly feel hurt and aggrieved at being denied a proper position in the INDIA bloc, but his boycott of Yatra will simply add to the strength of RSS and BJP design. Even a section of the senior JD(U) leaders are feeling upset at this hide and seek game of Nitish. The INDIA bloc leaders feel that his ambivalent approach on this highly sensitive issue has been hurting the opposition the most. These leaders also point out that Nitish must not nurse the inflated ego that he commanded the support of the EBC and Dalits. He must feel the pulse of the people of these communities. They have been gradually shifting their allegiance to the RSS. (IPA Service)