Nitin Nabin’s ‘dahi-chura’ moment

The joke doing the rounds in BJP circles says it all — “Bihar in BJP or BJP in Bihar?” Ever since five-time Patna MLA Nitin Nabin was named Working National President, the party headquarters has worn a distinctly Bihari flavour. When Nabin arrived to take charge, it wasn’t luggage but dahi-chura and makhana-kheer that stole the show, served generously to workers and media alike. BJP beat reporters, often grumbling about access, were seen happily digging in. “At least with Nitin ji, dahi-chura se hamara bhi swagat hua,” quipped a journalist. The symbolism peaked when Amit Shah, accompanied by Dharmendra Pradhan, stood to receive Nabin. “Esi ko bhag kahte hain,” smiled workers, spotting fate — and hope — at play.

Ram ji then, G-RAM-G now

For decades, the BJP’s most potent mobilisation cry was “Ram Ji”. Now, party strategists are dusting off that playbook for a new acronym — “G-RAM-G”. As Opposition protests intensify over the alleged dilution of MGNREGA, the BJP is preparing a nationwide outreach to sell its revamped rural employment scheme. Party sources say the focus will be on explaining amendments and countering what they call Congress-spread “misinformation”. “If not clarified at once, fake messages can cause electoral disasters,” warned a senior BJP leader. With Congress planning mass protests over what it calls the “ending” of a Mahatma Gandhi-named law, the saffron party wants to flip the narrative — insisting G-RAM-G strengthens, not weakens, rural livelihoods. After January 14, insiders say, the campaign may mirror the sustained Ram temple mobilisation — development replacing devotion.