As Bihar gears up for its assembly elections, the political atmosphere is charged, and parties are fine-tuning their strategies. The BJP has unveiled its committees for the upcoming polls, but former Union Minister RK Singh, a key Rajput figure within the party, is missing from both the manifesto and campaign committees. This absence is being attributed to his apparent rebellious stance.
While rumors circulated about Singh potentially leaving the BJP, he has denied these claims, affirming his commitment to the party. Despite his public statements, the BJP seems to have marginalized him, likely due to his dissenting views, leading to questions about the potential impact of his actions and the Rajput card he might play.
Singh has openly criticized the party, accusing it of neglect and internal plotting. He also hinted at seeking new political avenues. Although he has denied any plans to form a new party or switch allegiances, the situation remains complex.
Speculation has linked Singh to Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj party, especially following allegations of corruption against BJP figures by Kishor, with Singh demanding proof. The party leadership is closely monitoring Singh’s actions, particularly those related to leveraging Rajput votes.
Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Bihar was interpreted by some as a move to address Singh’s dissent. While local leaders downplay the rift as a personal issue, the BJP is reportedly devising strategies to appease the Rajput community, including involving senior Rajput leaders and potentially leveraging the popularity of Yogi Adityanath.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Singh faced defeat in Ara, sparking accusations of internal sabotage. Now, questions arise about whether Singh will use the Rajput card to exert pressure on the party, given the community’s considerable influence in Bihar.
Recent caste census data indicates that the Rajput community makes up 3.45% of Bihar’s population. Historically, they have aligned with different political parties, and since 2014, they have largely supported the NDA.
The significance of the Rajput community is clear from their representation in the assembly, with 20 MLAs in 2015 and 28 in 2020. Both the BJP-JDU and RJD-Congress have relied on Rajput candidates in the past. The BJP has fielded a significant number of Rajput candidates in previous elections with varying degrees of success, while the RJD and Congress have also had mixed results.