BJP again banks on OBC leader in Bihar, appoints LS member Jaiswal state head

New Delhi: After 'testing' the potency a backward leader in bringing the vote share of the backward community into its fold, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has again given the baton to lead the party in Bihar to a leader belonging to other backward community (OBC) by appointing three-time Lok Sabha member Sanjay Jaiswal as party's Bihar unit president.

Jaiswal, who has been winning from Paschim Champaran constituency in a row since 2009, is seen as an ideological moderate and he enjoys a non-controversial image. The appointment was made by BJP president Amit Shah.

As per political experts, the appointment of Jaiswal may help BJP in bringing some harmony in its uneven tie-up with Nitish Kumar-led JD(U).

"The recent statements of BJP leaders suggesting Kumar shift the political base from Bihar to Delhi have only brought embarrassment to the party instead of any gain. There are some senior BJP leaders who are eyeing the CM post, which they cannot 'claim' until Nitish Kumar is there," the political commentator said, adding that Jaiswal has the ability to push the party's agenda as well as safeguard the interests of the alliance partners.

As the state is scheduled to face the assembly polls later next year, the appointment of Jaiswal is seen as a move

aimed at placating backward voters. Jaiswal has replaced Nityanand Rai after the later was inducted into the Modi cabinet as a Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Notably, Rai had been asked to hold the post of the state BJP president till the appointment of a new full-time chief. BJP won its 17 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections and JD(U) won 16 seats. The vote share of BJP has also increased in comparison to previous elections under the leadership of Rai.

Earlier, Jaiswal's father Madan Prasad Jaiswal, who was also a doctor, had won the Bettiah Lok Sabha seat for three-time in 1996, 1998 and 1999 polls on BJP ticket.

Talking to Millennium Post over Jaiswal's appointment, Bihar BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said, "After Nityanand Rai's successful tenure as a state president, Jaiswal is the next ideologically committed, honest and dynamic new generation leader will continue to expand the party among masses as well as strengthen it at the root level."