PATNA: Apart from its traditional voter base of Muslims and Yadavs, Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is also trying to woo extremely backward caste (EBC) and dalit voters ahead of the assembly elections in the state. It has announced 27% reservation for EBCs and 18% for dalits as far as appointment of district presidents of the party is concerned. The list of 50 district presidents of the party is likely to be released on Friday.
Earlier, the party had made Rajput stalwart Jagdanand Singh its state president to attract upper caste votes. “RJD is the only party in the state to give such reservation to its functionaries. We treat all castes and communities equally,” party spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.
Jagdanand said though the new list of district presidents of RJD was initially supposed to be released on Wednesday, it was postponed by two days as leader of opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was campaigning for Delhi polls.
Party sources said the new list may not have names of some old war horses of RJD who have served the party for more than two or three terms as district president. “The number of Yadavs and Muslims in the list will come down. However, party will accommodate these netas in other cells,” said an RJD functionary.
Sources said there was uncertainty regarding the retention of party’s Patna district president Devmuni Singh Yadav and Patna Mahanagar president Aftab Alam as well. “After finalizing the names, Laluji sent the list to Tejashwi,” said another RJD functionary.
The party may also announce the names of its 135 state level office-bearers on Friday with representation from different castes. Sources, however, said reservation formula as applied in selection of district president would not be applied in case of office-bearers.
The meeting of RJD’s legislature party members will be held on February 8. It will be followed by the meeting of its new district presidents on February 9 and state office-bearers on February 10.
Earlier, the party had made Rajput stalwart Jagdanand Singh its state president to attract upper caste votes. “RJD is the only party in the state to give such reservation to its functionaries. We treat all castes and communities equally,” party spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.
Jagdanand said though the new list of district presidents of RJD was initially supposed to be released on Wednesday, it was postponed by two days as leader of opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was campaigning for Delhi polls.
Party sources said the new list may not have names of some old war horses of RJD who have served the party for more than two or three terms as district president. “The number of Yadavs and Muslims in the list will come down. However, party will accommodate these netas in other cells,” said an RJD functionary.
Sources said there was uncertainty regarding the retention of party’s Patna district president Devmuni Singh Yadav and Patna Mahanagar president Aftab Alam as well. “After finalizing the names, Laluji sent the list to Tejashwi,” said another RJD functionary.
The party may also announce the names of its 135 state level office-bearers on Friday with representation from different castes. Sources, however, said reservation formula as applied in selection of district president would not be applied in case of office-bearers.
The meeting of RJD’s legislature party members will be held on February 8. It will be followed by the meeting of its new district presidents on February 9 and state office-bearers on February 10.
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