Rahul’s OBC focus denies ticket to upper caste neta

Gaya: The Congress has replaced its upper-caste candidate in Tekari with an OBC leader, Santosh Kushwaha. Sumant Kumar, who contested the seat in 2020 and lost by a slender margin of about 2,000 votes, has been “disowned” by the party.The change is being attributed to Rahul Gandhi’s renewed focus on OBCs as part of a social engineering strategy aimed at wooing OBC and EBC voters.Upset over being denied the ticket, Sumant said, “Rahul’s social justice plank is a hoax. More than social justice, the state needs economic justice. The OBCs and EBCs already have established leaders in Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar. Rahul is dashing his head against the wrong wall. The party has not learned any lesson from its past.”Asked whether he would contest as an independent like other rejected candidates, Sumant said, “Magadh politics is bipolar and unattached candidates do not have a viable option. Undaunted by ticket denial, I will continue to serve the people of Tekari as an ordinary social worker.”Expressing his displeasure at Sumant’s exclusion, Vijay Kumar Mithu, senior leader and former member of the All India Congress Committee, said, “Going by its style of functioning and changed social priorities, Congress cannot revive itself in the state.

The party will have to pay a heavy price for ignoring sincere and dedicated workers.”In a related development, Omair Khan, another Congress leader aspiring for the Tekari ticket, has been sent to Biharsharif as the party’s official candidate. Party insiders said Congress faced a problem of plenty in Tekari, where besides Sumant and Omair, Tabish Patel, Santosh Kushwaha, Azmi Bari and two nepo candidates — the sons of former state chiefs — were serious contenders.Commenting on his selection, Khan, nephew of former minister and RJD leader late Shakil Ahmad Khan, said, “I will abide by the party’s decision and will do everything to prove true to the trust reposed by the party leadership in an ordinary worker like me. I have already filed nomination for the Biharsharif seat.”