Ananth Kumar absent in crisis
The rift between BJP and JD(U) might have been resolved but one leader who was conspicuous by his absence during the series of meeting the party convened to resolve the Bihar crisis was senior party leader Ananth Kumar.
Mr Kumar, the party’s national general secretary, was also recently appointed as the party’s Bihar in-charge by party chief Nitin Gadkari. But he was missing in action when his party was desperately trying to keep its alliance intact with the JD(U).
Sources disclosed Mr Kumar, who had unsuccessfully handled the Jharkhand issue, was kept away from the Bihar crisis by party top brass. A majority section within the party was not happy with the manner Mr Kumar had handled the Jharkhand issue, sources said.
Mr Kumar did not attend even a single meeting when the issue was discussed by party leadership, not even when the party’s Bihar core group met with the party’s top brass, sources said.
Mr Kumar is the only party leader who had been appointed in-charge of a state so far by Mr Gadkari. The BJP-JD(U) alliance was severely strained when Bihar chief minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar returned the Kosi relief amount of the Gujarat government led by Mr Narendra Modi. Later, both parties claimed whatever differences were there had been sorted out.
“He (Mr Kumar) was made the second in command by Gadkariji to sort out the Jharkhand crisis when he went for his Europe trip. We all know what happened in Jharkhand. It was very embarrassing for the party,” said a senior party functionary.
After dilly-dallying for almost a month on the issue of withdrawing support from the Shibu Soren government, the BJP had to finally pull out from the Soren-led government. Mr Soren, the JMM chief, had voted against the BJP’s cut motion during the Budget Session of Parliament.
even when the BJP was a coalition partner in Jharkhand. The state is under the President’s Rule at present.
A section within the party was unhappy with the manner the Jharkhand issue was dealt with. Some even blamed Mr Kumar for not handling the issue skilfully. “Jharkhand was a major embarrassment and the party couldn’t have afforded to face a repeat in the case of Bihar,” the senior party functionary said.
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