Ravi Shankar Prasad Denies 'Kutta-Billi' Jibe After Bankipur By-election Loss

Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament, Ravi Shankar Prasad, has firmly denied making the controversial 'kutta-billi' (cat-dog) remark, which was widely attributed to him by Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor during the intense campaign for the Bankipur Assembly by-election. The alleged jibe suggested that even an animal ('kutta-billi') could secure victory from the Bankipur seat if fielded on a BJP ticket, implying the party's overconfidence and underestimation of the electorate's intelligence. Prashant Kishor, a prominent political strategist turned politician, heavily leveraged this purported statement throughout his campaign in the Bankipur constituency, using it as a central narrative to attack the BJP. He repeatedly told voters that the ruling party was 'underestimating the discretion and intellect' of the electorate by allegedly making such an assumption. The remark became a significant point of contention and a key campaign plank for the Jan Suraaj Party. The controversy escalated following the results of the Bankipur bypoll, where Prashant Kishor secured a resounding victory, making a successful debut in electoral politics and marking a significant upset for the BJP. This seat, located in Patna, Bihar, has historically been a stronghold for the BJP, with the party, and before that, its predecessors, maintaining dominance for nearly three decades. The defeat of the BJP's candidate, Neeraj Kumar Sinha, by Kishor was seen as a considerable setback, especially given that the BJP's national president, Nitin Nabin, had previously represented the constituency. A day after Kishor's decisive win, Ravi Shankar Prasad publicly dismissed the allegations, asserting that he never uttered the words attributed to him. He released a clarification video and, in an interaction with The Indian Express, expressed his dismay, stating: 'How can people stoop to such a level? Neither I nor any BJP worker made a "kutta-billi" reference at any point. I challenge them to show proof of any such remark.' Prasad further claimed that he had clarified the matter even before the election, labeling the accusation from JSP as a 'motivated statement' falsely attributed to the BJP. He emphasized the party's respect for its workers and voters. When questioned why the BJP did not issue a more forceful and repeated rebuttal during the election campaign, despite the allegation being a persistent theme in JSP's rallies, Prasad explained that the party had already clarified its position. He stated, 'We did clarify it. There was no need to repeatedly address something we never said. But if someone stoops to such levels just to win an election, we can only condemn it.' This explanation suggests a strategic decision by the BJP not to give further traction to a remark they claimed was fabricated. The Jan Suraaj Party, however, swiftly rejected Prasad's post-defeat clarification. JSP leaders interpreted Prasad's denial as a reflection of the BJP's struggle to come to terms with its defeat in the Bankipur bypoll. Senior JSP leaders contended that the voters' verdict was a direct response to the BJP's candidate selection and an indication that the electorate was not to be taken for granted. They argued that the BJP's post-election statements showed an inability to 'digest defeat.' The Bankipur by-election was notable for the BJP fielding Neeraj Kumar Sinha, a relatively less-known face, after an initial candidate, Abhishek Bunty, had his candidature withdrawn due to his father's conviction in a fodder scam case. Sinha was considered a close associate of Nitin Nabin. This candidate selection decision, combined with the 'kutta-billi' jibe, appears to have contributed to the electoral outcome. The incident highlights the intensity of political discourse in India, especially during elections, where statements, whether real or alleged, can significantly influence public perception and electoral results. The back-and-forth between Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prashant Kishor underscores the high stakes involved in by-elections and the continuous battle for political narrative control. The news remains highly relevant to an Indian audience, particularly those following Bihar politics and national political developments.

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