BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy: Champion of Forward Castes in Bihar Politics

Patna:

Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a four-time Member of Parliament from Bihar and former Union minister, has positioned himself as the spokesperson for the often overlooked forward castes in Bihar's political landscape, which has predominantly focused on social justice and backward castes over recent decades. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Rudy emphasized that "forward castes need to unite now."

He stated, "Rajputs cannot be disregarded simply because they constitute only 3.5 percent of the population. Rajputs and other forward castes must recognize their influence and claim their rightful position. I've become their representative as they face continued marginalization."

To advance this cause, Rudy is conducting the "Sanga Yatra" — named after Maharana Rana Sanga of Mewar — which he describes as an "initiative to unify all forward castes in Bihar, including Rajputs."

As a three-term MP from Saran (formerly Chhapra), Rudy highlighted that he stands alone among Bihar's politicians in consistently defeating members of Lalu Yadav's family, including Lalu Yadav himself, his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Rohini Acharya, and Teja Pratap Yadav's father-in-law Chandrika Rai.

"I am likely the only political figure who has campaigned against every member of Lalu Prasad Yadav's family," he remarked. A former Union minister overseeing civil aviation and skill development, Rudy was removed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet in 2017 and promptly appointed as the BJP's national spokesperson. Today, he maintains that the party leadership has not sidelined him. "I remain a dedicated BJP member... Since I haven't received major central responsibilities, I can devote more attention to my constituency," he explained.

Regarding election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, who is viewed as a significant variable in the upcoming assembly election, Rudy asserted that Kishor is "not an established political participant."

"Prashant Kishor must first enter the political arena properly, demonstrate his capabilities, and only then can he begin criticizing others," Rudy noted.

"One must first become an MLA or MP, function effectively within the legislative body, address people's concerns, and only afterwards can one start critiquing others," he concluded.