Bihar Politics: In the reshuffle made on Tuesday, Arif Mohammad Khan has been made the new Governor of Bihar while Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been sent to Kerala in his place. Assembly elections are going to be held in Bihar next year and this reshuffle done before that is considered very important from the political point of view.
Arif Mohammad Khan has been considered the progressive face of the Muslim society and along with this he has been openly supporting the politics of nationalism. For this reason, he always remained at loggerheads with the ruling Left government in Kerala. This is the reason why the politics of the state has heated up when Arif Mohammad Khan was taken from Kerala to Bihar.
Bihar gets Muslim governor after 26 years
Bihar has got a Muslim governor after 26 years in the form of Arif Mohammad Khan. Before him, AR Kidwai was the Governor of Bihar till 1998. Arif Mohammad Khan has always been in the headlines for his statements. Khan has been a staunch opponent of radical Islam and has supported the return of Muslims to the mainstream. Despite having a Muslim face, he has a nationalist image.
Arif Mohammad Khan visited Bihar in February. During his visit to Darbhanga, Arif Mohammad Khan was honored with Makhana garland, Paag and Madhubani painting. Shortly before Khan’s visit, Lord Ram Lalla was consecrated in the grand temple of Ayodhya on January 22. On this occasion, he had said that due to the Pran Pratishtha program in Ayodhya, there is an atmosphere of celebration and happiness in the entire country. Ayodhya can never be imagined without Mithila.
Yogi’s statement and support of Waqf Bill
Recently, during the Maharashtra assembly elections, when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave the slogan of divide, you will be divided, then Arif Mohammad Khan supported that statement of Yogi. He said that there is nothing wrong in this slogan because the feeling of unity should be within everyone in the country. Before this, he has been openly expressing his opinion on Shah Bano episode and other progressive issues also.
He had also openly expressed his opinion on the Waqf Amendment Bill brought by the Modi government. He said that this law needs amendment. He said that the Waqf department has been with him for some time and he is well aware that there is a need for change in it. There is not a single Waqf in which there is no litigation.
NDA likely to get strength
Due to his nationalist views, Arif Mohammad Khan has been targeted by the opposition and he has been accused of being a Sangh-minded person. Political experts believe that behind making Arif the Governor of Bihar, there is not only the strategy of expansion of BJP but it will also give strength to other parties included in NDA, JDU, LJP, HAM and Upendra Kushwaha’s party.
Effort to woo progressive Muslims
Experts say that BJP has deployed Arif Mohammad Khan in Bihar to ease the path of JDU. Many JDU leaders are facing the pain of loss of Muslim vote bank. In such a situation, an attempt has been made to give a message among the progressive Muslims that BJP and JDU are their supporters in true sense.
According to experts, BJP has tried to woo progressive Muslims by putting forward a moderate Muslim face. Now it remains to be seen how effective this step taken by the Modi government proves to be.
