Patna: Rajesh Kumar (Ram)`s appointment as Bihar Congress president in an election year only demonstrates how the party`s top brass has immense faith in his leadership at a time when the grand old party has started asserting itself without ruffling its old ally, RJD.
A Dalit leader and two time MLA from Kutumba, Ram said that Congress would ensure that OBCs, EBCs, Dalits get tickets for the upcoming assembly election and also get representation in the party organisation in proportion to their population. All castes and communities will get justice in ticket distribution as well as also in the organisation in proportion to their population --Jiski Jitni Hissedari, Uski utni bhagidari. At least four people from EBCs would be given tickets in the assembly election, he added.
In an interview with FPJ, he, however, admitted that as of now, representation of OBCs and EBCs in the organisation was not in the right proportion, but this anomaly would be rectified as the state party committee was presently being reconstituted.
Q- How much Congress is confident this time?
A- Congress flags have started fluttering even in the non-traditional pockets as people say they have never left the party but instead the party had left them. Our leader Rahul Gandhi`s emphasis on social justice, caste census, increasing reservation quota and appointing a Dalit as Bihar Congress president has started attracting people towards Congress in Bihar. I am confident of my party putting up a better show in the assembly election, and also hopeful of INDIA bloc forming the next government in the state. Our alliance is tested, trusted, firm and also faithful to the people. We have made an assessment of our party`s prospects at 70 seats for the polls.
Q - How caste politics in Bihar will impact the polls?
A -Caste factors continued to play a major role in elections in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as even BJP by somewhat deviating from its Hindutva plank has also started talking about caste equations in elections. Prominent party leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not hesitate in revealing their castes at public places.
Q- Reservation quota on Telangana model
A- Credit for Narendra Modi government`s announcement for conducting caste census should definitely go to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who had been demanding for it since long. Caste census should be conducted on Telangana model under which people get reservation in government jobs as well as in schemes. It is deplorable that the Nitish government failed to frame policies for various sections of the society on the basis of caste and economic survey conducted in Bihar.
Q- Focus points in election manifesto
A- The party manifesto will include Mai Bahin Samman Yojana, free electricity up to 200 units, filling up of 4 lakh vacant posts in various government departments. These are not mere announcements as experts in Delhi have also worked on the financial viability of these programmes. Recently, Congress also organised a mega ‘Rozgar Mela’ in Patna as a large number of youths also got jobs there.
Q- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's performance
A- Nitish had failed on all three commitments he had made- crime, corruption and communalism- as everybody could see how crime graph had risen, how rampant corruption is all pervasive in government offices, and also how he has allied with BJP off and on. I pray for a long and healthy life for Nitish but his falling health is a matter of concern. Truly speaking, BJP people are exposing him as they do not want him to continue in the office for a long period. It is the reason he is losing control over the government machinery. “Sakar Ka iqbal khatm ho gaya hai”, (Government has lost its command).
Q- On Prashant Kishor
A- Everybody knows what is the role of Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor in the assembly elections? Who has planted him in the election to derive political mileage? Jan Suraaj Party is actually a party of Pandeys (upper castes).
Q- How do you assess SIR?
A- Election Commission at the behest of BJP is conducting such an exercise. Its main objective is to divert people's attention from real issues.
