VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, April 5: When the BJP dropped sitting MP Jayant Sinha from Hazaribag, the party was expected to pick some other Kayastha candidate elsewhere to placate the Kayasthas.
Instead, the BJP chose to bet on OBCs, leaving the Kayasthas, its traditional voters, in the lurch.
NOTA option
No wonder many Kayashthas, in private, say they will go for NOTA this time. “If we have no share in the democratic process, why participate in it?” asked a Kayastha leader.
Though the number of Kayastha voters is not a deciding factor in any constituency, they can still influence the electoral results in Ranchi, Hazaribag, Dhanbad, Giridih and Jamshedpur.
Notably, Kayasthas have always felt their influence through their erudition at every level, including in national politics. This is the reason why Kayasthas have always been given preference in elections. But in this election, sitting Kayastha MPs were sidelined, and those from backward castes were picked and fielded in the battle.
Jayant Sinha was prominent among the sitting Kayasthas MPs. Even former Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay, who was a favourite for a Congress ticket from Ranchi, has supposedly been ignored this time. Turncoat Ramtahal Choudhary is likely to be fielded in Ranchi.
‘Kayasthas themselves are the reason for their plight’
A resident of Malviya Marg near Bada Akhada Chowk, Arbindji Sahay, an activist of the 1974 movements, said Kayasthas themselves are the reason for their plight. He said that there is no clear agenda and no fixed direction for this caste now, and so in such a situation, everyone in the Kayasthya community has their own tune. He said today, Kayasthas have become spineless.
Sahay said that earlier, this was not Kayasthas’s condition because Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had given many opportunities to Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha. Even today, Kayastha leaders, including Deepak Prakash from Jharkhand and Nitin Nabin from Bihar, have essential responsibilities.
He said Kayasthas from Hazaribagh, Giridih, and Ranchi have had opportunities many times. Now, the time has come for the people of this caste to bring change in themselves, he added.
Modi’s politics
According to him, Modi’s politics is based on nationalism, and now the voters are teaching a lesson to the parties that are ignoring it. Moreover, what happened with Jayant was expected as long as he failed as an MP of Hazaribag, added he.
BJP leader Anil Sinha seemed angry over Kayasthas being sidelined from active politics. It is said that Kayasthas are the class that is highly educated, humble, and among those who take everyone along. He said that from politics to jobs, Kayasthas made their mark and got credit for completing many big tasks in India. He said there are better options than pressing NOTA in elections, but the solution is to vote for a better candidate.
According to BJP leader Anupam Sinha, Kayasthas have been educated and open-minded from the beginning. This is why when ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’ was implemented in the Congress regime, Kayasthas implemented it, and today, their numbers have decreased.
Kayasthas are marginalised
He said this is the reason why Kayasthas have been marginalised today. He said Kayasthas will have to unite and come forward for their rights by putting their views on the appropriate forum. Otherwise, he claimed the day is pretty close when they will be sidelined entirely.
