Patna: Two-time Bihar chief Minister Karpoori Thakur died of a coronary heart assault in 1988. But, he looms massive on the state’s political panorama, with rival political events nonetheless attempting to assert his legacy.
On Monday, two days earlier than his a hundredth start anniversary, the Rashtrapati Bhavan introduced that he will probably be honoured with a Bharat Ratna.
In the meantime, on the day of the start anniversary, each the Janata Dal (United) and the BJP are holding mega exhibits in Patna.
“The actual fact that two rival events are claiming his legacy proves that Karpoori Thakur continues to be related for the votes of the downtrodden sections of Bihar,” stated former MP Vijay Krishna, certainly one of Thakur’s followers.
“A technology has handed since his loss of life. However the youthful technology is aware of Thakur’s character by means of their elder technology — about his integrity, dedication for downtrodden and dry honesty,” he added. “His persona is so massive that even his political foes are pressured to take his identify.”
Thakur hailed from the Hajaam (barber) caste, which constitutes lower than 1 % of the state’s inhabitants.
However the caste is without doubt one of the 100-odd that comprise the Extraordinarily Backward Courses (EBCs), which collectively type 36 % of the inhabitants and are thus an important determinant within the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Thakur introduced a quota for the backward castes method again in 1978, a yr earlier than the Mandal fee was arrange.
Consistent with the suggestions of the Mungeri Lal Fee, Thakur put aside a 12 % quota for EBCs, 8 % for OBCs, 3 % for girls reducing throughout caste strains, and three % for the poor amongst higher castes.
The quota led to caste tensions, and far abuse was directed at Thakur.
“However he used to inform us to not react in opposition to the abuses and stay agency in our dedication in the direction of the downtrodden lessons,” stated senior RJD chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui, who was Thakur’s political secretary for a very long time.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan assertion asserting the Bharat Ratna for Thakur seeks to acknowledge “his dedication to affirmative motion”, which “gave illustration and alternatives to the poor, oppressed, exploited and disadvantaged sections of the nation”.
“By honouring Shri Thakur, the federal government recognises his position as an emblem of democracy and social justice,” it provides. “The federal government additionally acknowledges his deep affect as a motivating determine for the marginalised sections of society.”
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar stated the award was a “fulfilment of an age-old demand” by his get together, that may “ship a constructive message amongst disadvantaged sections of the society”.
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Anti-dynasty
Whereas Thakur was alive, he didn’t permit his sons to enter politics. “I recall that one of many MLAs requested Thakur to present a ticket to Ram Nath Thakur, Karpoori Thakur’s son. Thakur turned indignant and informed the MLA that, within the subsequent polls, both he’ll contest the polls or his son will,” stated a follower who didn’t want to be named.
“The MLA backed out. It was solely after the loss of life of Thakur that Ram Nath Thakur was promoted, first by Lalu Prasad, after which by (chief minister) Nitish Kumar.”
At present, Ram Nath is a Rajya Sabha MP of the JD(U).
Thakur’s followers recalled that, regardless of having been a two-time CM, he died and not using a home of his personal in Patna. His disdain for worldly pleasures was nearly legendary.
“He was in a parliamentary delegation going to Yogoslavia. He went with solely his kurta and dhoti and was shivering in Yugoslavia,” stated one other follower. “Marshal Toto (the late Yugoslav premier/president Josip Broz Tito) interacted with him and was impressed. He gave Thakur a coat. When Thakur got here again to Patna, he gifted it to somebody,” stated one other follower additionally looking for anonymity. “Cash and property didn’t matter to him.”
The EBCs
The EBCs had been by no means thought of a political drive in Bihar. It was within the 2005 meeting polls that Nitish Kumar realised that EBC votes alone may very well be a match to Lalu’s Muslim-Yadav mixture.
After he got here to energy in 2005, one of many first steps he took was to order quota for EBCs in panchayat and native physique polls. The EBCs remained with Nitish Kumar in a bloc until he broke ties with the BJP for the primary time in 2013.
Since then, the BJP has been engaged on EBC votes in a significant method, projecting an EBC deputy CM, Renu Devi, after the 2020 meeting polls, making an EBC its chief within the state legislative council final yr, and holding capabilities within the identify of Karpoori Thakur.
Prem Kumar Mani, a former MLC as soon as recognized to be near CM Nitish Kumar, stated whereas each Nitish and Lalu staked declare to Thakur’s legacy, they “don’t comply with his rules”.
“Thakur performed the backward caste card however he arrange a powerful second line of management from all castes, together with higher castes. Then again each Lalu and Nitish didn’t promote a second line of management,” he added.
Whereas Thakur allowed his leaders to argue their case and even criticise him, Mani added, “each Nitish and Lalu are illiberal in the direction of criticism”.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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