New Delhi: In a politically significant move, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday paid tributes to former Congress president Sitaram Kesari at the party’s national headquarters on his 25th death anniversary. Since Kesari was from the most backward section of Bihar, Rahul’s efforts by the former party president to refresh his memories have helped many to link the move to the November assembly elections in the eastern state.
Kesari was unwarmedly removed from the post in 1998. This was significant in the history of the Congress, as Sonia Gandhi, who was angry with Kesari’s way of working and the party’s falling status under his leadership. After Kesari was removed, Sonia Gandhi took over the reins of this old party.
Kesari died in 2000
Kesari died in 2000 and has been confined to the files of the oldest party since then, but his relevance suddenly increased ahead of the Bihar elections, where the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eager to defeat the NDA, which has ruled the state for the last two decades.
An opportunity to entice the EBCs community
According to Congress insiders, although the Economically Backward Class (EBCs) in Bihar has traditionally supported Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the turmoil in his party JD(U) has given the old party an opportunity to woo the most backward groups, which account for 36 per cent of the total voters and could affect the upcoming elections.
This is why Rahul Gandhi, whose politics has become an OBC/Dalit supporter. He had recently released a separate EBC manifesto in Bihar, detailing what the Congress would do for the welfare of the community if it came to power.
“””Paying tributes to Kesari, he invited the grandson of the former party president to the Congress headquarters and directed the party functionaries to take care of the family,”” insiders said.”
According to Congress Working Committee member and Lok Sabha MP from Bihar Tariq Anwar, Sitaram Kesari was a well-known leader of Bihar and the state unit had been celebrating his birth anniversary and death anniversary at the party office Sadkat Ashram for decades, but on Friday, Rahul Gandhi was the first to pay tribute to the former party president at the Congress headquarters.
‘Important developments’
“Anwar told ETV India, “”It was an important development.” Its message will surely go all over the state. The people of Bihar remember Kesari, who emerged from a large section of the Congress. Kesari, who participated in the freedom movement in adolescence. He started as a bandmaster in the Congress Seva Dal and then became an MP in 1996, treasurer of the All India Congress Committee and then the party chief.
According to Anwar, the Most Backward Classes (EBC) in Bihar had lost faith in Nitish Kumar’s leadership and was looking at Rahul Gandhi, who had raised the concerns of marginalised groups in the eastern state.
“Anwar said, “”The backward class is angry with the JD(U).” Rahul Gandhi is focusing on these communities and has promised several welfare schemes for them. The India block that made VIP leader Mukesh Sahni deputy chief minister will also give a signal to the most backward class.
K Raju, national coordinator of the AICC for SC/ST/OBC and minorities, said Rahul Gandhi has always been concerned for the welfare of marginalized groups and paying tributes to former party chief Kesari should not be linked to the Bihar elections.
Rahul Gandhi has always been a supporter of Dalits
“Rahul Gandhi has always been a supporter of Dalits,”” Raju told ETV India.” He did not pay tribute to Kesari for any electoral gain. Kesari contributed to the Congress in many ways and it is a good thing that tribute was paid to him today.
However, the AICC functionary said that the extremely backward classes in Bihar are likely to return to the Congress as the old party has been organising an outreach programme for them for the last few months. “Raju said, “”The announcement of the manifesto of the most backward classes was an important event in that campaign.
