CROWD PULLING MANTRA

In post-Independence India, the politicians have learnt  the mantra of crowd pulling to demonstrate their mass following. It has come on the fore that such leaders enjoy enough clout to compel the government to concede their demands. We have seen such huge rallies of the Dravidian politicians of Tamil Nadu at the Marina Beach, Dusserah Shiv Sena rallies of late Bal Thackeray, Kisan rallies of Mahender Singh Tikait in Delhi, P.V. Narsinmha Rao’s rally at the Delhi Lal Quila, Lalus repeated rallies in Patna, Janta Mantar crowds addressed by Anna Hazare for Lokpal,  Baba Ramdev’s Ram Lila ground show and recent continuous demonstrations at the India Gate and Jantar Mantar demanding death for the Dec.16 Delhi gang rape criminals, which compelled the govt. to constitute a fast track court and frame an immediate law to stem the rot.

As an astute politician, Nitish Kumar, aware of this tested effective weapon, decided to try it to press his demand of special status to Bihar and similar other backward states. As a preparatory move, first he held districtwise rallies  to  create awareness, which culminated into the massive national show in Delhi. Very tactfully he left a hint that he would support the govt. at the Centre which came forward to espouse his demand. Calculatedly he had hit the iron while it was hot and accordingly there was an immediate positive response. He was invited to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister who disturbed by the desertion of the DMK, decided to oblige the Bihar CM, capable of pulling his chestnut out of fire after the 2014 general election.

We understand that the Centre is ready to redefine backwardness which will include Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. To start with Bihar will immediately get a relief of over six to seven thousand crores of rupees in the shape of concession in the repayment of central loans. Similar other major benefits are in the pipeline which will definitely help the state to outshine other states in the race to development. Well done Nitish!