Paswan is unwilling to concede the space of Dalit politics to either Mayawati or Kanshi Ram and Bharat Ratna is the battlefield now. “Kanshi Ram was leader for a party. In fact, his influence did not even cross a single state,” said Paswan during a press conference in the Capital on Monday. Paswan, in fact, added that given a choice he would “rate Babu Jagjivan Ram above Kanshi Ram for the prestigious award”.

Supporting Mahatma Jyotiba Phule for the award, Paswan said that Phule was a social reformer whose work in the fields of social justice, concern for poor and weaker sections, and women’s education is notable contribution to nation building. He added that even Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar considered himself a disciple of Phule.

Only PM can decide

Unlike the Padma awards — where “nominations” are discussed and decided by an institutional mechanism — Bharat Ratna is essentially the prerogative of the Prime Minister. “Even if the Home Ministry receives a nomination for this award, it is simply forwarded to the Prime Minister’s office,” a Home Ministry official said.

Prime Ministers in the past have often had informal consultations across the political spectrum, including with the Leader of the Opposition and chief ministers before a formal decision.

Incidentally, while it is not mandatory for a Bharat Ratna — conferred for exceptional service towards advancement of art, literature and science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order — to be given every year, the last time it was given in 2001 when Lata Mangeshkar and Bismillah Khan were honoured.

... contd.