NEW DELHI:You can take the Bihari out of Bihar, but not the Bihar out of the Bihari. The BJP has bought into Bihari asmita (pride) to woo voters—especially the migrant lot—as the stakes in the poll-bound state continue to get higher.
Knowing well that it would be a daunting task to defeat the formidable Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad duo, the saffron party has launched a two-prong plan—lobby with employers to allow Bihari migrants leave during elections and ferry a two-lakh population from Bihar on sponsored trips to BJP-ruled states to showcase ‘success stories’. The BJP feels that Biharis, who have seen the progress in the BJP-ruled states, can be its best votaries and brand ambassadors.
The party is holding sammelans (formal gatherings) in several major cities across the country, particularly industrial ones, which have a sizeable working population of Bihari migrants.
While rallies to woo migrants may be a time-tested formula, the BJP is newly engaging with industrialists and traders who employ workers. “We have asked traders and factory owners in BJP-ruled states to give a 10-day break to workers when the polling takes place. Many of the factory owners in Gujarat and Maharashtra have already agreed to it. It will not only be paid holiday, but many employers were also willing to sponsor their train tickets,” a senior BJP leader involved in the campaign said.
Interestingly, the Bihar elections may be slated between Dussehra and Diwali, and Chhath Puja. As a result, migrants who would get a 10-day break would not only be able to cast their votes, but also stay back to celebrate the festivities. Chhath Puja, Bihar’s biggest festival is on November 17, while Diwali is on November 11. Polling may be over before these dates.
The BJP has already held rallies addressing Bihari workers in Surat, and will hold similar rallies in Delhi, Kolkata and other cities.
In addition, the BJP is plans to arrange travel for over two lakh Bihari voters from the state to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. “We will show these people as how to how the BJP governments have been able to change lives in these states. In Gujarat, we will focus on self-help groups run by women, besides agriculture techniques in Haryana, and other social benefit schemes in other states. The study tours will help convert them into not just our voters, but also prompt them to tell our story when they go home,” a senior BJP leader said.
All Roads to Bihar
With the election scene warming up, Patna has become the focal point for key Central Ministers with roots in Bihar. While Ravi Shankar Prasad, Radha Mohan Singh, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Ram Vilas Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha, Giriraj Singh and Ram Kirpal Yadav are campaigning aggressively in their backyards, their Cabinet colleagues are racing against time to start projects before the model code of conduct kicks in.
The Election Commission is likely to announce the poll dates in the first week of September. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has led the charge for his party to wrest power in Bihar, has addressed three mega rallies, including the one in Arrah where he announced a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore. The BJP feels his presence has galvanised the electorate. Modi will address his fourth and last rally on September 1 in Bhagalpur. The party has leased Bhagalpur Airport for the rally as they feel no other ground can accommodate the numbers they intend to garner in a show of strength. The BJP’s main rivals, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, will hold a rally on Sunday.
For the Bhagalpur rally, all the ministers from Bihar have been asked to be present on the dais.
Campaign pitch
The BJP will not declare its chief ministerial candidate. “So, the emphasis is on the achievements of the Modi government, its ministers and other BJP-ruled states,” a BJP source said.
Central ministers have also been given key responsibilities. For Ananth Kumar, Bihar is his new home, as he is the party’s election in-charge there. Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh—who is from Champaran—is in charge of the manifesto committee. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari have addressed parivartan yatras and started projects.
The BJP is pitching its campaign on the Rs 1.25 lakh crore package. “Our first phase of campaign is over. Raths (customised vehicles) carrying video messages of Modi covered 43,000 villages. In the next phase, these raths will showcase the special package details,” a BJP general secretary said.
A party insider said that as the BJP had not declared a CM candidate, all the ministers from Bihar were fancying their chances.