Newly elected Janata Dal - United (JD(U)) MP from Sitamarhi, Devesh Chandra Thakur, has sparked significant controversy with his recent statement that he will not address the needs of Muslims and Yadavs, as they did not vote for him in the Lok Sabha election.
Thakur made these contentious remarks on Sunday during a visit to Sitamarhi. A video clip of his comments quickly went viral on social media. In the video, Thakur is heard saying, "A Muslim person came to me seeking help. It was his first time approaching me. I asked him if he had voted for 'lantern' (RJD), and he replied yes. Then I said, still, you dared to come to me? I will not help you."
He further added, ?You would have seen the face of Narendra Modi had you pressed the arrow symbol for me. If this is so, why should I not see the lantern symbol and Lalu ji?s face on you while doing your work??
It is believed that Thakur was upset with his narrow victory margin. He blamed Muslims and Yadavs for the reduced margin. Thakur secured 515,719 votes, while his close opponent, RJD candidate Arjun Rai, received 464,363 votes, resulting in a victory margin of 51,356 votes. In contrast, in 2019, JD(U) candidate Sunil Kumar Pintu had won the seat with a margin of over 250,000 votes.
Thakur's divisive remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. RJD MP Misa Bharti responded, "Why did he have to make such a statement? He won the elections and he will have the opportunity to represent the people of that constituency. If he is making such statements, what message is he trying to put across? It is a double-engine government, PM Narendra Modi says that there should be 'sabka saath, sabka vikas.' So, why do the MPs make such statements?" Bharti told ANI.
Despite widespread criticism, Devesh Chandra Thakur told the Hindustan Times that he stands by his remarks. He clarified that his statement was limited to requests for personal help, such as facilitating treatment at AIIMS or contacting the police. He added that while requests for assistance concerning society at large are welcome, personal favors would not be entertained.
Thakur's comments have further polarized the political landscape, raising concerns about the inclusive governance promised by the ruling coalition.
