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Bihar's politicians go all out
to woo Bhumihars

Not wishing to miss an opportunity to get in the good books of the influential Bhumihar community, politicians of all hues in Bihar made it a point to organise impressive celebrations on the birth anniversary of the state's first chief minister Sri Krishna Sinha known as 'Sri Babu'.

Ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, Union Railway Minister and senior Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar and former Union minister Ramvilas Paswan were among the prominent leaders who marked their presence at functions on Monday to mark Sri Babu's 115th birth anniversary.

Never before have such luminaries shown such interest in Sri Babu or his birth anniversary.

The Bhumihars were the BJP's main prop in the fight against what it called Laloo Prasad Yadav's 'backward caste rule' in Bihar since the early 1990s.

In recognition of their support, one of their leaders Dr C P Thakur had been inducted into the Union Cabinet.

But when Thakur was dropped in the recent cabinet reshuffle, the community of rich landlords took it as a humiliation and turned against the BJP.

It is here that Sri Babu comes into the picture. He is to the Bhumihars what Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is to the dalits. No wonder than that a dozen organisations and political parties are celebrating his birth anniversary across the state.

The main function was organised at his native village, Maur, in Barbigha block of Shekhpura district by state Jail Minister Ashok Choudhary, who represents Barbigha in the state assembly.

Choudhary, a Congress leader, had turned the function into a party show with senior leaders, including assembly Speaker Sadanand Singh and L P Sahi, in attendance.

Several functions were held in Patna but all eyes were on the one organised by state Health Minister Akhilesh Singh, the only Bhumihar in the Rabri Devi ministry.

Both Laloo Yadav and his wife Chief Minister Rabri Devi attended the function and indicated to those present that the RJD would welcome the Bhumihars with open arms.

Nitish Kumar had organised a function in Begusarai district, a stronghold of the Bhumihars, while Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan attended a function in Arwal district, of which Akhilesh Singh is a native.

Several Union ministers from Bihar, including Sharad Yadav, Shahnawaz Hussain and Ravi Shankar, attended the function organised by Nitish Kumar.

However, the functions did attract their share of controversy.

The Rashtriya Brahmarshi Mahasangh, an organisation of Bhumihars, termed Akhilesh Singh's function as a conspiracy by Laloo Yadav to sully Sri Babu's image.

In another development, Sri Babu's granddaughter Rajayshri accused Jail Minister Ashok Choudhary of neglecting Sri Babu's native place pointing to the fact that Barbigha has been without electricity for three months now.

But Sri Babu's grandson Hiran Singh came to Choudhary's rescue and dismissed the charges made by his sister.

More reports from Bihar

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