BJP to woo backwards, minorities

The delay in the announcement of a merger date has left leaders of both the JD(U) and the RJD worried. The worst nightmare that the two political stalwarts, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav, are facing now is that they may lose a large chunk of their traditional voters to the BJP. With the Assembly polls approaching and the saffron party setting a goal of 185 seats, it is more likely that several minority and backward faces from the JD(U) may be heavily poached.

The BJP leaders are upbeat after the success of their membership drive and are looking in the direction of the JD(U) where voices of rebellion are being heard louder than the party’s slogan of good governance. A larger chunk of the JD(U) rebel MLAs are likely to join the BJP on December 23 in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah, who is expected to be in Patna on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former CM Karpoori Thakur.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that he is interested in the overall development of the state and it won’t be possible without the development of backwards,” former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said.