Katihar MLA, for four terms, Tarkishore Prasad was appointed leader of the legislative party of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, in an indication that he could be the main deputy minister in the new government of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Nitish Kumar.
Prasad, 64, is an intermediate pass from local DS College Katihar. Katihar won on a BJP ticket in October 2005 and has never lost the seat since. Prasad comes from RSS and has held various positions in the Sangh before joining the BJP.
Even in 2015, when JD (U), RJD and Congress fought together in the Assembly elections, he retained the seat.
“I have been given this responsibility and I will fulfill the duty to the best of my ability,” said Prasad after being elected leader of the BJP legislative party. However, he declined to comment on the post of deputy CM.
“I cannot comment on that as of now. Whatever responsibility comes, I will take up the challenge, ”he said.
Ranjit Kumar, a local Manihari resident, said: “Prasad used to perform ‘Shakha’ from RSS and also held various positions in the organization.”
One of the reasons for Prasad’s elevation in the party is the proximity of Katihar, which shares a border with West Bengal.
“The BJP wants to enter into West Bengal politics emphatically and therefore Tarkeshwar Prasad was elevated to the position of BJP leader in Bihar,” said political expert Naresh Kumar Srivasatava.
The NDA scored an unlikely victory in the Bihar polls, showing that the exit polls were wrong and had given the RJD-led opposition alliance, Mahagathbandhan an advantage. The opposition alliance won 110 seats, of which the RJD won 75, Congress 19 and the left-wing parties together won 16 seats.
The Bihar assembly elections were held in three phases on October 28, November 3 and November 7. The vote counting for the assembly’s 243 constituencies took place on November 10.
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