01-06-2025
RJD mocks formation of new commissions by govt in election year
Patna: A day after the NDA govt reconstituted the Mahadalit Commission and the Fishermen Commission (Machuara Ayog), the
RJD
on Sunday described the move as a political gimmick ahead of the upcoming
Bihar assembly elections
.
In a social media post, the RJD referred to the reconstituted panels as a "Jhunjhuna Commission", formed merely to create an impression before the polls. The party said, "LJP, HAM, JD(U) and BJP together formed Jija-Sala, Sasur-Damaad, Beta-Bhatija Commission!"
The Nitish Kumar-led govt has, in recent days, announced several commissions targeting different caste groups, including those for upper castes, Mahadalits, scheduled castes and the fishermen community.
In the reconstituted Scheduled Caste Commission, Dhananjay Kumar alias Mrinal Paswan has been appointed chairman and Devendra Manjhi as vice-chairman. Mrinal is related to LJP (RV) president Chirag Paswan while Manjhi is connected to HAM (S) patron and Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Manoj Kumar from Katihar has been named chairman of the Mahadalit Commission. Lalan Kumar of East Champaran has been appointed chairman of the Fishermen Commission and Ajit Chaudhary of Buxar as vice-chairman.
Other members of the Fishermen Commission include Vidyasagar Singh Nishad of Samastipur, Rajkumar of Patna and Renu Singh of Bhagalpur.
VIP chief Mukesh Sahani also criticised the announcement, calling it mere tokenism just months ahead of the polls. "Nitish has been in power for so long, but why did he not remember to form this commission till now?" said Sahani, who is also popularly known as the 'Son of Mallah'.
The fishermen community, comprising various sub-castes, makes up approximately 8% of Bihar's population.
The BJP plans to hold fishermen conferences across the state in June and July, including in Muzaffarpur (June 10), Katihar (June 14), Darbhanga (June 18), Motihari (June 22), Samastipur (June 26), Khagaria (June 30) and Patna (July 10).
Sanjay Kumar of Biharsharif, Rubel Ravidas of Patna and Lalan Ram of Aurangabad have been appointed as members of the SC Commission. Ramnaresh Kumar of Vaishali, Ram Ishwar Rajak of Bhojpur and Ajit Kumar Chaudhary of Patna will serve as members of the Mahadalit Commission.
