PATNA, Aug. 26 -- As the Opposition's "Voter Adhikar Yatra" is touring the state, the 107th birth anniversary of Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal, former Bihar chief minister and chairperson of the Mandal Commission, which laid down the criteria for the reservation for other backward classes (OBCs), was observed with great enthusiasm as a state function at Murho, Madhepura, in Patna and also at the BJP office. However, it was surprising that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was conspicuously absent from the event at Murho, which is merely 40 km away from Supaul where Rahul and other Opposition leaders are slated to pass through as part of their ongoing yatra on August 26. Murho is also the site of Murho Estate of Yadavs of the British period. Mandal was a scion of this Yadav clan. People at Murho were said to be disappointed with Rahul's absence. Late Rash Behari Lal Mandal, founder of Gope Jatiya (Yadav) Mahasabha in 1910 at Madhepura and father of BP Mandal, was the only backward classes national leader of the Indian National Congress in Bihar. He was a social reformer and nationalist. His death anniversary is observed on August 26. "We were hopeful that the break during the Voter Adhikar Yatra would be used to remember the enormous contribution of BP Mandal towards uplifting the backward classes, but perhaps the Congress think tank thought otherwise. At least the RJD should have made it happen," said some the villagers of Murho while talking to the HT. The local Congress leaders were also disappointed. "We were looking for an opportunity to invite our leader Rahul Gandhi to Murho village, the land of BP Mandal, the messiah of Social Justice, but it could not materialise despite our repeated requests and efforts," said a Congress worker Toofani Mallah. At Murho, former minister and deputy speaker of state assembly Narendra Narayan Yadav, former RJD minister Chandrasekhar Yadav, Madhepura DM Taranjot Singh and others, however, participated in the state function organised with much fervour and traditional cultural performances. In Patna, chief minister Nitish Kumar, deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, Dr Manish Mandal and other government officials garlanded the statue of BP Mandal at Deshratna Marg. and Circular Path intersections during a solemn official ceremony on Monday morning. Mandal is considered a toweing figure in the annals of fight for the rights of backwards in India. Based on his Commission's report, backward classes were granted 27% reservation in government jobs and admission in educational institutions....