Y Plus, Z Plus Securities as Rewards to Regional Party Heads for Opposing Mahagathbandhan in Bihar

Patna: Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government is using Y plus and Z plus securities as a reward to top leaders of small regional parties opposing the ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar.

By providing Y and Z plus security cover to them, the BJP is eyeing to ensure these parties' entry into the fold of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before next year's polls to increase allies and widen its support base.

The latest leader to get high central security cover is Santosh Kumar Suman, the national president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM).

In the last six months, thanks to influential senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's move, the central government has either upgraded security cover from Y plus to Z plus or provided Y plus security to one after another leader, including Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas), Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), and Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).

On Tuesday, HAM's spokesperson Amrendar Kumar confirmed that Suman's security cover was upgraded, and he was provided Y plus security. Officially, Suman was provided Y plus security on the basis of a report from the intelligence bureau. It is a different matter that till recently, he was not facing any threat to his life.

Interestingly, Suman got Y plus security a day after he predicted the end of Nitish Kumar's inning as CM in Bihar within ten days, and he claimed that RJD leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav is set to replace Kumar and would become the new CM of Bihar.

Suman, who resigned last month from the Mahagathbandhan government's cabinet led by CM Nitish Kumar and his party, has formally announced joining the BJP-led NDA. Since then, Suman has been attacking Mahagathbandhan and questioned the bid for opposition unity at the national level to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Suman is the elder son of former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, founder of the HAM. Manjhi, who is in his late 70s, belongs to the Dalit Musahar community, one of the most marginalised and backward sections. He is keen on establishing Suman as an undisputed leader of his community to play a long political inning.

Till early last month, Manjhi used to directly target the BJP's Hindutva politics based on Ram and Ramayana. He claimed that Ram was an imaginary figure, not a historical one, and questioned the very existence of the Mythical divine figure.

According to sources in the HAM, Suman has become the first leader of the Musahar community to enjoy Y plus security cover. "This is a big thing for the poor and backward community and HAM will spread it".

However, the BJP will propagate to provide Y plus security cover to a leader belonging to the Musahar community.

Earlier, it was reported that the BJP had offered Manjhi to appoint him as governor of a Northeast state and would give a ticket to Suman to contest from the Gaya Lok Sabha seat in next year's elections. Gaya is the home district of Manjhi.

Political analysts in Bihar have raised concerns over the BJP's strategy of leveraging leaders from small parties who champion caste-based politics by providing them with high-security cover, which has become a symbol of status among their supporters. According to political commentator Satnarayan Madan, the BJP-led central government is using Y plus and Z plus security as a political tool. Madan stated, "No one is considering the threat perception or the need for high-security cover for these leaders. Y plus and Z plus securities have become a means for the BJP to play politics."

In January 2023, Chirag Paswan, who is not part of the NDA, was granted Z plus security by the central government, citing a serious threat to his life. Previously, Paswan had Y plus security due to his loyalty to Modi and Shah. The BJP is confident that Paswan will eventually join hands with the saffron party. Paswan, who portrays himself as Modi's devoted follower, has been strongly critical of the Mahagathbandhan and Chief Minister Kumar's government.

The BJP is already grappling with the challenge of managing two rival groups within the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP), led by Union Minister Pasupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan, both of whom are dalit leaders. Paras, who is Paswan's uncle (Chacha), and Paswan himself, who is Bhatija, are causing difficulties for the BJP. Additionally, the entry of another dalit leader, Manjhi, into the NDA could create further complications considering Manjhi's history of engaging in bargaining politics.

Similarly, Kushwaha, who left Kumar's JD-U and formed a new party, was initially provided Y plus security and later upgraded to Z plus security cover after indicating his alliance with the NDA. VIP supremo Sahni, who distanced himself from the Mahagathbandhan, was also granted Y plus security by the central government this year. It is anticipated that Sahni will eventually join the NDA.

Political commentator DM Diwakar noted that Y plus to Z plus security cover was provided to leaders of parties that the BJP sees as potential allies in the upcoming elections. Diwakar stated, "High-security cover was given to those defending the BJP-led central government and promoting the BJP's agenda."

Currently, the BJP officially has the Lok Janashakti Party of Union Minister Pasupati Kumar Paras as its only ally in Bihar. However, several small parties are expected to join the NDA soon. Until their formal inclusion, the saffron party appears relatively weaker compared to the Mahagathbandhan, which includes the Janata Dal (United) of Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav, Congress, and Left parties.

The BJP's strategy in Bihar is aimed at eroding the Mahagathbandhan's social support base by attracting small parties led by Paswan, Kushwaha, Sahni, and Manjhi into the NDA fold. The BJP aims to gain support from different castes, such as the Dalit caste through Chirag Paswan, OBC through Upendra Kushwaha, and Mallah (fishermen or boatmen) community through Mukesh Sahni. They also seek to promote the Mushahar community by supporting Manjhi. Reports suggest that the BJP plans to contest 30 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, allocating the remaining ten seats among its five potential allies.

Currently, the ruling Mahagathbandhan consists of JD-U led by Nitish Kumar, RJD led by Lalu Prasad, Congress, and three Left parties—CPI(ML), CPI(M), and CPI.