Kesri and Karpoori: Congress, BJP spar over two Bihar icons

At 24, Akbar Road, where irate Congress workers had roughed him up more than a quarter century back after he was ousted as the party’s president, and his contribution to the empowerment of backward classes largely forgotten in later years, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the way on Friday morning to remember former party chief Sitaram Kesri on his 25th death anniversary.

- ARCHIS MOHAN

The Congress’ rediscovery of Kesri is reminiscent of the time when in 2020 the party’s leadership honoured the memory of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao in the year of his birth centenary after years of ignoring his place in the pantheon of party's notable leaders.

It also comes at a crucial juncture as Kesri hailed from Bihar, which is poll-bound, and belonged to a caste that is on the list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state. After VP Singh announced in August 1990 his government’s decision to implement the Mandal Commission report, it was Kesri as minister for social justice and empowerment in Rao’s government who implemented the report.

Rahul Gandhi, who in recent years has spearheaded the Congress’ demand for a caste census and championed the politics of social justice, paid floral tributes to a black-and-white portrait of Kesri, along with other party leaders, and Kesri’s grandson, Rakesh, who is a businessman. It was significant that the ceremony took place at 24, Akbar Road, the party’s former national headquarters, and not at its new office in Kotla Road.