10 months ago
Karpoori Thakur's Legacy Central to Bihar Election Campaigns
Imagine a very important leader from Bihar named Karpoori Thakur who worked hard to help poor and backward people.
Now that Bihar is having elections, many politicians are talking about him a lot.
Some politicians are even visiting his old village, Karpoori Gram, to remember him.
They say they want to be like him and help people just like he did.
The Prime Minister even gave him a special award, called the Bharat Ratna, after he passed away.
This is because Karpoori Thakur was seen as a 'people's leader' who cared about fairness for everyone.
Different groups of people in Bihar, especially those who were historically left behind, really liked him.
So, now, politicians hope that by talking about Karpoori Thakur, they will get the votes from people who admired him.
Karpoori Thakur's legacy is a key focus in Bihar's upcoming assembly elections, with multiple political parties claiming his influence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his election campaign from Karpoori Gram, Thakur's ancestral village, highlighting his contributions to social justice.
The Union government's posthumous award of the Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur in 2024 is seen as an attempt by the NDA to co-opt his legacy.
Political parties are targeting Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs), a community Thakur belonged to and which significantly influences election outcomes.
Thakur's influence extends to major political figures like Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav, both of whom drew from his platform of social justice and backward caste upliftment.
- Who
- Karpoori Thakur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, political parties (NDA, RJD, Congress, Left), Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav, and the residents of Karpoori Gram.
- What
- The legacy of socialist icon Karpoori Thakur is a central theme in Bihar's assembly election campaigns, with various political parties attempting to claim his influence and support base, particularly among Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs). Prime Minister Modi launched his campaign from Thakur's ancestral village, invoking his contributions to social justice. The posthumous Bharat Ratna award is also seen as an effort to co-opt his legacy.
- Where
- Karpoori Gram, the ancestral village of Karpoori Thakur in the Samastipur district of Bihar, and across the state as election campaigns intensify.
- When
- Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections on November 6 and 11, with Prime Minister Modi's rally on October 24.
- Why
- To garner votes by associating with the popular legacy of Karpoori Thakur, who championed social justice and represented the interests of the poor and backward communities.
Key facts
- Village Name
- Karpoori Gram (formerly Pitaunjhia)
- Located In
- Samastipur district, Bihar
- Karpoori Thakur's Roles
- Two-time Chief Minister of Bihar, Socialist Icon
- Key Communities Wooed
- Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs)
- Political Clans Influenced
- Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav
- Award
- Bharat Ratna (posthumously awarded in 2024)
Quotes
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India
“Those who are out on bail are out on bail in theft cases. Now their habit of stealing is such that they are engaged in stealing the title of Karpoori Thakur. The people of Bihar will never tolerate this insult to the leader of the people, Karpoori Thakur. They will never tolerate it.”
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“Our government considers Bharat Ratna Jannayak Karpoori Thakur Ji an inspiration. We have moved forward with this resolve of giving preference to the deprived, prioritising the backward, and serving the poor.”
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Nityanand Thakur
Karpoori Thakur's nephew
“PM visit is not linked to elections. He had promised us that he will come and visit when we met him last year in Delhi before the Bharat Ratna was announced.”
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Santosh Singh and Aditya Anmol
Journalist and researcher, authors of 'The Jannayak: Karpoori Thakur, Voice of the Voiceless'
“He is the foundation stone who is not visible but still holds the entire edifice.”
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Banarsi Thakur
A local resident and admirer of Karpoori Thakur
“When he was CM his daughter got married. And no body knew about it and there was no taam jhaam (arrangements). He always pitched for free education.”
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Karpoori Thakur
Former Chief Minister of Bihar
“Congressi raj mitana hai, Socialist raj banana hai (We have to end Congress rule and bring in Socialist rule), Angrezi me kaam na hoga, phir se desh gulam na hoga (We won’t work in English, the country won’t be a slave again), and Rashtrapati ka beta ya chaprasi ki santaan, Bhangi ya Brahman ho, sabki shiksha ek samman” (Whether it’s the son of the President or a lowly peon, whether it’s a sweeper or a Brahmin, let everyone have equal access to education).”
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Amarjit Singh
A resident of Karpoori Gram
“This time we will see a badlav.”
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