BJP has started its 20-day “Luv-Kush Yatra” from Bihar’s Patna to Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.
The yatra has the dual purpose of celebrating the consecration of the idol at the Ram Temple and engaging the influential agricultural castes of Koeri (Kushwaha) and Kurmi, known collectively as “Luv-Kush” in Bihar’s political parlance.
The culmination of “Luv-Kush Yatra” will coincide with the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
BJP’s ‘masterstroke’ to dent Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s core constituency:
The BJP’s “Luv-Kush Yatra” is being viewed as an attempt by the party to split Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s core constituency of Luv-Kush.
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It is seen as BJP’s strategic move to shore up its political base in Bihar.
Why is BJP reaching out to agricultural castes?
The Luv-Kush community forms a significant constituency for Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar. By organizing this yatra, the BJP aims to consolidate the Luv-Kush vote bank and potentially curtail Nitish Kumar’s influence among these communities. The journey will traverse regions with historical connections to Hindu deities Ram and
Sita, and areas with significant Koeri-Kurmi populations.
What is the significance of “Luv-Kush”?
Luv and Kush were the sons of Hindu deities Ram and Sita.
In Bihar it is a political term for the alliance between the Koeri (Kushwaha) and Kurmi agricultural castes.
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“Luv-Kush Yatra”:
The yatra has started from Patna on Tuesday. BJP’s cadre will travel through districts linked to the story of Ram and Sita and those with a sizable Kurmi-Koeri population.
The party’s Bihar president Samrat Choudhary flagged off the yatra.
The yatra has been structured in a way so that all top local leaders from Koeri-Kurmi castes and local representatives, including MPs and MLAs, attend a part of the yatra.
The party has invited the heads and representatives of several religious organisations to join the yatra.
The yatra also has two chariots — each with a 'havan kund'.
During the yatra, the slogan will be 'sabke siya, sabke ram'.
“Luv-Kush Yatra” route:
BJP has also planned havans and public meetings during the yatra that will pass through Vaishali, Sitamarhi, Valmiki Nagar, Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar, Nawada, Nalanda, and Buxar before concluding in Ayodhya in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
