In an indication that the episode surrounding his political future was not yet over, Union minister Ashwini Choubey during his maiden visit to Patna after the party decided not to renominate him from Buxar, questioned on ‘what was his fault’ that had led to his ticket being cut.
Questioning the wisdom of the party high command, Choubey, who was welcomed at the Patna airport by hundreds of supporters who had gathered from across the state, said “Aakhir mera Kasur kya hai” before moving to Mahila Charkha Samiti, the residence of Jayaprakash Narain to sit on a silent satyagrah.
His words are being read as a clear message to his detractors within the BJP high command with whom the veteran leader is said to be upset. According to sources close to him, Choubey was not informed beforehand of the leadership’s decision to not to renominate him from Buxar, which they have termed as a ‘conspiracy’.
The 71 years old Choubey, who is Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Environment, Forest and Climate Change and five time member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, became a household name in Bihar for having built 11,000 toilets for minority and Below Poverty Line families under Swachh Bharat Mission that became popular due to the slogan coined by Choubey, “Ghar-ghar Me ho Shouchalaya ka Nirman, Tabhi hoga Ladli Bitiya ka kanyadaan”.
While addressing the supporters who had come to express their support to him from across various districts of Bihar including Buxar, Ara, Bhagalpur, Kaimur, Sasaram, Muzaffarpur Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Patna, Arwal and Navgachiya, Choubey said, “I am a disciplined soldier of the party. I am not angry; the party has given me a lot. I have taken every possible step for Buxar. Buxar will always remain in my heart. I am not leaving Buxar. Narendra Bhai’s government will be formed at the Centre. The number of seats will exceed 400,”.
However, he also expressed his anger and disappointment over being denied the ticket. “ I am not someone who changes colors like a chameleon; we roar like a lion. I will remain active in politics. People were speculating that if I didn’t get a ticket, I would quit politics.
But that’s not the case. I will remain active in politics. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s blessings are upon me. I have never extended my hand for myself or my relatives. I am always dedicated to the nation. What is my fault? Tell me that? I have been struggling continuously since 1966. It is 58 years of penance for me. What is my fault? My fault is that I am actively involved in politics within India.
Lord Rama had to go to exile for 14 years. We are not someone who can be scared. The BJP is our mother, the BJP has given everything. Everything is secondary for the party. I am a proud soldier of JP Narayanan. I am not someone who backs down from struggle,” he said. These words are likely to come as a concern for the BJP and Mithilesh Tiwari who has been given the ticket in place of Choubey.
Choubey is regarded as the most prominent leader of the Brahmin community, with which 3.65% of the total population of the state, are numerically the highest of all the forward communities in the state.