Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, the brain behind MNREGA and the Chief Architect of social justice and empowerment in Bihar, is no more with us. Raghuvansh babu was one of the leaders who stood for up for the rights of the destitute and downtrodden. A true socialist ideologue, after leaders like Karpoori Thakur, he went on to become the trusted lieutenants of Laloo Prasad Yadav. Through his aims, advice and action scored a defining distinction in the rank and hierarchy of RJD.
During his stint as Rural and Development Minister at the centre, he designed many social welfare schemes for the people of backward castes. Parenting MNREGA was after all was one of his many successes. As Raghuvansh babu translated MNREGA into reality by drawing upon from his connect as a grassroots activist and leader. It was for this fact that RJD always valued him as one of the committed champions of countryside socialism.
Raghuvansh Babu was a textbook illustration of obedient and loyal political ideologues of his time. Otherwise, the credibility he built over the years wouldn’t have been possible in the first order. Though he might have lost from Vaishali constituency both in 2014 and 2019, still people often used to relate with him. Reflected in Raghuvansh babu’s sense of conducting people’s opinions and ideas giving him a purpose of place in Politics.
It is rare to be seen in today’s Politics elaborated in his tussle with the leadership of RJD. If not for the induction of Rama Singh in the rank and hierarchy of RJD, Raghuvansh babu would have played a part in reviving the prospects of the RJD in Bihar. But, the RJD seemed least interested as has been claimed in Raghuvansh babu’s letter to RJD Supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav a few days ago.
Raghuvansh babu was undergoing treatment for his health-related ailments at Delhi’s AIIMS. But, Laloo Yadav didn’t give a second thought to his letter asking him for staging a comeback. I am made to understand that the lack of leadership crisis in RJD did compel Raghuvansh babu to think of available political options. JDU supported his bid and he was in close coordinated dialogue with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
But before his entry into JDU could be materialized, Raghuvansh babu left us all. Had the RJD tried to thoroughly communicate with him, such a situation could have been avoided.
Tejashwi, you knew that he was your Political Pointsman than why you meted such a treatment to him? Did you forget that he was personally in touch with Nitish Kumar after the latter walked out of the Grand Alliance in July 2017? Caste alliance and arithmetic is important in this crucial state but not at the expanse of your leadership.
It will be better if you can take a lesson or two from Sushasan Babu and Nitish Kumar in this regard. Forget about making a comeback but first, base your focus on basics. It will be next to impossible for the RJD to fill the gap after our esteemed Raghuvansh babu’s departure. Socialism, on the tenets of equality and empowerment, needs to be reinvigorated again if the RJD would want itself to be taken as a serious contender.
Long live Raghuvansh Babu’s Legacy.