Karpoori Thakur's Family Exchanges Sweets, BJP Leaders Burst Crackers To Celebrate Bharat Ratna

Celebrations erupted in Bihar’s Samastipur, native home of former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur.

Family members of former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur exchange sweets upon announcement of Bharat Ratna

Source : ANI

Karpoori Thakur, a prominent socialist leader and former Bihar chief minister to be conferred with Bharat Ratna posthumously, the Rashtrapati Bhavan announced on Monday. Soon after the announcement, celebrations erupted in Bihar’s Samastipur, the native home of former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur. After receiving the news, family members of Karpoori Thakur exchanged sweets and celebrated the moment.

#WATCH | Samastipur, Bihar: Family members of former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur exchange sweets after he is going to be awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously. pic.twitter.com/B58suFKHkF

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024

Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary and other workers of the party burst crackers and celebrated in Patna as the Union Government announced Bharat Ratna (posthumously) for Karpoori Thakur, reported news agency PTI.

#WATCH | Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary and other workers of the party burst crackers and celebrate in Patna as Central Government announces Bharat Ratna (posthumously) for Karpoori Thakur. pic.twitter.com/xGEjvoH0ZD

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024

Speaking to news agency ANI, Karpoori Thakur's son and JD (U) MP Ram Nath Thakur thanked the Union Govt for the decision and said, "I want to thank central govt from my side as well as on behalf of my party and people of Bihar...I don't see it from the side of politics. His (Karpoori Thakur) 100th birthday is tomorrow so maybe in view of that Central govt took this decision".

#WATCH | Samastipur, Bihar: On Karpoori Thakur being awarded the Bharat Ratna, his son and JD (U) MP Ram Nath Thakur says, " I want to thank central govt from my side as well as on behalf of my party and people of Bihar...I don't see it from the side of politics. His (Karpoori… pic.twitter.com/I1j7zHZtR3

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024

Ram Nath further told news agency PTI, “Everything happens in its own time. Previous governments did not take this decision (to confer former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur with Bharat Ratna) and today, 36 years after his demise, the Central Government has taken this decision on his birth centenary; I thank the government on behalf of the people of Bihar and express my gratitude."

VIDEO | “Everything happens in its own time. Previous governments did not take this decision (to confer former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur with Bharat Ratna) and today, 36 years after his demise, the Central Government has taken this decision on his birth centenary; I thank the… pic.twitter.com/Oo21EnmTQq

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 23, 2024

BJP's Outreach To Extremely Backward Classes In Bihar

According to PTI, the decision might help the BJP to deepen its support among backward castes, especially the Extremely Backward Classes, in Bihar following the announcement of Bharat Ratna for former chief minister, the late, Karpoori Thakur.

Notably, the presence of entrenched Other Backward Classes (OBC) leaders such as RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(U) president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has meant that the BJP has so far been unable to replicate in Bihar the kind of sway it has over the community in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

In an apparent attempt to appropriate the legacy of Thakur, who came from a numerically small 'Nai' (barber) community, the BJP is hopeful that it can win over the support of a large number of backward castes which individually are low in numbers but together outnumber more dominant backward castes like the Yadavs, reported PTI.

Karpoori Thakur, also revered by his followers as 'Jannayak', was known for his efforts to strengthen the backward castes. Karpoori Thakur was born on January 24, 1924. He was even imprisoned during the Quit India Movement against the British regime. He won his election for the first time in 1952, and since then never lost a single election in his career.

Karpoori Thakur paved the way for reservations for backward castes in government services in Bihar in 1978, a move that would set the tone for the implementation of the Mandal Commission report in 1990.

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