Patna: The state BJP on Monday resurrected its affection for, and identification with, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the occasion of the latter’s birth anniversary that is otherwise also celebrated as ‘good governance day’ in the country, courtesy PM Narendra Modi.
Even the party’s minor functionaries at its state headquarters were surprised, as Vajpayee’s statewide birthday celebration was not held on such a scale as it happened this time — for the first time, in the last nine years.By that token, the BJP appears to be reviving the charisma of its old stalwart Vajpayee in the state.
Even CM Nitish Kumar, who first broke his party’s 17-year-old affiliation with the NDA in 2013 after the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s certain elevation to be the saffron party’s PM face for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has repeatedly remarked that the BJP of Vajpayee was no longer the same as it used to be.
Asked by mediapersons about Nitish’s similar observation made even on Monday, BJP state chief Samrat Choudhary said, “Look, (former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in the BJP. PM Narendra Modi, too, is the leader of the BJP. Don’t have any confusion about it. It was due to Atal’s kindness that he (Nitish) remained Union minister for six years and became the CM with the support of BJP.”
Incidentally, for some time past, real or manufactured political scenarios are being thrown up: that Nitish might opt for state assembly elections along with parliamentary elections next year, or the BJP might decide to support government formation by deputy CM and RJD face Tejashwi Prasad Yadav if he weans away a group of JD(U) MLAs and, by implication, splits it.
Asked about the second scenario, Samrat said, “Whatever is happening in the JD(U) is not our concern. We have nothing to do with it. Our aim is clear. We are not interested in linking any group with us. We want to defeat the constituents of INDI Alliance, be it Lalu (Prasad), Nitish (Kumar), or the CPI(ML) — all of them.”
That notwithstanding, the state BJP organised a poetry recitation function, marked by the recalling of Vajpayee’s legacy and contributions by the party’s prominent leaders, holding of a medical camp and distribution of 200 blankets among the needy at the state BJP headquarters to celebrate the ‘good governance day.’
Among those who spoke on the occasion were Union minister Nityanand Rai, state BJP chief Choudhary, former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, leader of opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha and former minister Nitin Nabin.
Significantly, not only the gate of the party’s state headquarters was decorated by erecting an arch, Vajpayee’s life size cutouts were put up on display. Atal’s photographs were also there on the big flex billboards. Further, his portraits were also hung on electric poles.
Even the party’s minor functionaries at its state headquarters were surprised, as Vajpayee’s statewide birthday celebration was not held on such a scale as it happened this time — for the first time, in the last nine years.By that token, the BJP appears to be reviving the charisma of its old stalwart Vajpayee in the state.
Even CM Nitish Kumar, who first broke his party’s 17-year-old affiliation with the NDA in 2013 after the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s certain elevation to be the saffron party’s PM face for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has repeatedly remarked that the BJP of Vajpayee was no longer the same as it used to be.
Asked by mediapersons about Nitish’s similar observation made even on Monday, BJP state chief Samrat Choudhary said, “Look, (former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in the BJP. PM Narendra Modi, too, is the leader of the BJP. Don’t have any confusion about it. It was due to Atal’s kindness that he (Nitish) remained Union minister for six years and became the CM with the support of BJP.”
Incidentally, for some time past, real or manufactured political scenarios are being thrown up: that Nitish might opt for state assembly elections along with parliamentary elections next year, or the BJP might decide to support government formation by deputy CM and RJD face Tejashwi Prasad Yadav if he weans away a group of JD(U) MLAs and, by implication, splits it.
Asked about the second scenario, Samrat said, “Whatever is happening in the JD(U) is not our concern. We have nothing to do with it. Our aim is clear. We are not interested in linking any group with us. We want to defeat the constituents of INDI Alliance, be it Lalu (Prasad), Nitish (Kumar), or the CPI(ML) — all of them.”
That notwithstanding, the state BJP organised a poetry recitation function, marked by the recalling of Vajpayee’s legacy and contributions by the party’s prominent leaders, holding of a medical camp and distribution of 200 blankets among the needy at the state BJP headquarters to celebrate the ‘good governance day.’
Among those who spoke on the occasion were Union minister Nityanand Rai, state BJP chief Choudhary, former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, leader of opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha and former minister Nitin Nabin.
Significantly, not only the gate of the party’s state headquarters was decorated by erecting an arch, Vajpayee’s life size cutouts were put up on display. Atal’s photographs were also there on the big flex billboards. Further, his portraits were also hung on electric poles.