The stature of former minister Shyam Rajak, who left Rashtriya Janata Dal and recently joined Janata Dal United, is continuously increasing in the party. The discussion has intensified in the political corridors of Bihar that Shyam Rajak can soon be made a minister in the Nitish government. However, for this it is important for him to be a member of either the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council.
Recently, when Shyam Rajak had left RJD, he had said that whatever work the party gives, I will do it for the interest of the party. A few days after joining JDU, Shyam Rajak was also made the National General Secretary of the party. Even at that time Shyam Rajak had said that the party has given a big responsibility. I will especially take initiative to include Dalits and backward classes in the party.
Ashok Choudhary went to Dubai while Shyam went to Jharkhand.
In another important political development, Shyam Rajak’s growing stature in the party is being seen in line with this discussion. On behalf of JDU, in the month of August, Minister Ashok Chaudhary was made in-charge of Jharkhand. On the same day Shyam Rajak was appointed national general secretary of the party, Arun Prakash was appointed co-in-charge of Jharkhand. Ashok Chaudhary is currently on a tour of Dubai. In such a situation, Shyam Rajak went on Jharkhand tour on Monday. During his Jharkhand tour, Shyam Rajak talked about forming NDA government in the state. However, Shyam Rajak is not in charge of Jharkhand JDU.
There is discussion about cabinet expansion
There is a continuous discussion going on for the last few days regarding the expansion of Nitish cabinet in Bihar. Just a few days ago, BJP state president had also met JDU state president at Bindu. Then it was said that everything was set. It had even come to light that in the cabinet expansion, two ministers could be from JDU and others from BJP. In such a situation, it has started gaining strength that Shyam Rajak may join the cabinet.
Shyam Rajak has been a minister before also
Shyam Rajak, active in Bihar politics since 1995, has been a minister in Lalu Rabri government as well as Nitish government. In 2009, he left RJD and joined JDU. In 2019, he also became the Industries Minister in the Nitish cabinet, although in 2020, he rebelled and resigned while holding the post of minister. After this he joined RJD. After four years, he again resigned from RJD and a few days ago he joined JDU. Then it was also discussed that RJD had neither given him ticket from Phulwari nor sent him to the Legislative Council, due to which he left the party.
Dalit voters vocal about their voting rights
Senior journalist Sanjay Upadhyay says, both these situations have to be understood before and just before the elections. Cabinet expansion can happen before the elections because if the cabinet expansion happens just before the elections, then Nitish Kumar may not get any significant benefit from Dalit votes. Nitish Kumar mainly has to challenge Dalit leader Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi also has to be weighed in the balance.
He further said that it is a different matter that both are important constituents in NDA, but the stronger the number, the stronger will be its claim in the Assembly. It is also a fact that neither BJP nor Janata Dal United has been able to produce a strong second line leader. In such a situation, Nitish Kumar is carrying himself as the political boss of all the constituent parties. It is another matter that either second line leadership was not allowed to emerge or it did not emerge naturally.
Keeping a close eye on Dalit voters
Upadhyay said that if we look at the caste census, there are about 16 percent Dalit voters in the state and they have become vocal about their voting rights. Political literacy has developed within him. He is able to choose his leader. This is the reason why the strike rate of the party of two important Dalit leaders Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi has been better. Perhaps CM Nitish Kumar also has a keen eye on these Dalit voters. For this reason, Shyam Rajak may have a stake in the cabinet.
