The JDU, the RJD and the BJP on Wednesday held separate programmes in Patna to celebrate late socialist leader and former chief minister Karpoori Thakur’s birth centenary in an apparent attempt to woo the 36 per cent Extremely Backward Caste (EBC) population in Bihar.

Chief minister and JDU national president Nitish Kumar chose to give a sarcasm-laced thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conferring Bharat Ratna on Karpoori.

“Ramnath Thakur (Karpoori’s son and JDU Rajya Sabha member) told me that the Prime Minister called him up after the announcement. He has not called me so far. It is possible that he may claim full credit for the move. So be it, but I thank the Prime Minister and his government for fulfilling a demand that I have been raising since I assumed charge in Bihar,” Nitish said.

Nitish said just like Karpoori, he never promoted his family in politics.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad attacked the BJP for its timing in conferring Bharat Ratna on Karpoori. “Why did not they think about awarding Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur before? They announced this to get votes.... We had been demanding the highest national award for him for a long time.”

Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary said Modi was implementing the vision of Karpoori Thakur, while Lalu and Nitish became chief minister because of Karpoori’s blessings.