Manoj Chaurasia
In the battle for RJD pride in Patliputra this time, the family is being challenged by PM Narendra Modi himself who has confidently asked supporters to be ready with ‘Maner ladoos’ on June 4, and has also added a curious twist to the fight by subtly hinting at the “arrest” of RJD star campaigner Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in the land-for-job scam.
Lalu’s ‘Man Friday’ Now Man To Beat
While Saran has been Lalu’s home constituency since 1977 when he was first elected at the age of only 29, he also tried his luck from Patliputra in 2009. Lalu won from Saran, but lost Patliputra to his one-time friend Ranjan Yadav by 23,541 votes in a closely fought contest.
After his conviction in the fodder scam which led to his disqualification in 2013, Lalu fielded Misa from this seat in 2014 and 2019 but she lost both times to BJP candidate Ram Kripal Yadav, Lalu’s one-time ‘Man Friday’ whom she fondly calls ‘chacha’. This time again, Misa is locked in a direct fight against her chacha. However, PM’s “jail threat” to Tejashwi, who has emerged as a powerful Yadav community leader, has not gone down well with the politically dominant caste which accounts for 14.3% of Bihar’s total population.
During a rally, Modi said: “The countdown to go to jail has begun for those involved in land-for-job scandal. The moment his helicopter ride ends he will end up in jail.” Coming close on the heels of the murder of a Yadav youth in Saran allegedly at the hands of BJP workers, PM’s statements have only added fuel to the fire, analysts feel.
“On the one hand, PM seeks the support of Yadavs, on the other he issues an open threat to jail Tejashwi. Why will the Yadav community vote for the NDA candidate?” asked Ram Jaipal Yadav, a resident of Masaurhi, a Yadav-dominated assembly constituency. Yadav, whose wife served as the local Mukhiya for 20 years, says the Yadav community now treats Tejashwi equivalent to Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav, referred to with the honorific “Sher-e-Bihar”. “The Yadav community won’t accept such insulting remarks from a prime minister,” said Braj Nandan Prasad, another resident of Masaurhi.
Misa too challenged Modi to act on his words. “Instead of threatening us, he must do it. This will also prevent him from coming to Bihar too frequently to campaign for his candidates since all of us will be in jail then.” She says that instead of tackling surging inflation, unemployment and poverty, PM is issuing jail threats to her family.
Accusing PM of not honouring his pre-poll promises, she says the way her brother managed to give jobs to five lakh youths within 17 months in govt must be an eye-opener for the ruling coalition. “He (Modi) made scores of promises but did nothing. Who will believe him now?” she asks. She adds the main issue this time is unemployment and inflation, and both have caught the fancy of the common men.
Patliputra also has a significant presence of Yadav voters (around 5 lakhs), followed by Kurmis and Koeries (4 lakhs), Bhumihar (3 lakhs) and Muslims (2 lakhs) and Brahmins (one lakh). The number of Dalit voters too is significant. All the six assembly seats which fall under Patliputra LS constituency are represented by RJD and its allies. While Danapur, Maner and Masaurhi are represented by RJD, Phulwari and Paliganj are held by CPI-ML, its ally. Bikram seat too was won by Congress, but its MLA switched to JD(U) during the trust vote in the assembly in Jan this year. This gives Misa a psychological advantage.
BJP’s ‘Vikas’ Plank
BJP candidate Kripal claims he has the support of all castes and communities, and banks on Modi’s popularity. “Lalu’s social engineering stands destroyed now due to the PM’s focus on development. Modi symbolises all castes and communities since he works for all,” Kripal says. Trying to set a new narrative, he says the fight is between “the palace and the hut”. “I still live in a hut and work for the poor,” he claims.
Apart from the support of NDA voters, Kripal also banks on the support of his fellow Yadav men who have handed him his victories in the last two elections. He is, however, silent on PM’s remark and instead focuses on Modi’s leadership that he says has increased India’s stature globally.
Yet voters look clearly divided in their support for Kripal despite him coming from a humble background and being in touch with the masses. The reason for their annoyance is the rise in unemployment and the dip in job opportunities. “We are not happy with the BJP-led NDA govt. Except for giving 5kg ration, the govt has done nothing. Inflation is at its peak, and youth are jobless on the streets,” says Ram Pyare Pandey, a resident of Udaypur village in Paliganj block.
“Modi govt destroyed the poor in the past 10 years. Graduates have no jobs and are migrating to other states in search of low-category jobs,” says Aniket Paswan, adding, “Modi sarkar me garib pareshan hai. Sarkar badlna jaruri hai (Under the Modi govt, poor are upset. It is necessary to change the govt).”
But there are also those like Ram Pravesh who are happy with the performance of the Modi govt. “BJP govt is supporting the poor with free ration…Dusre, desh ko bachane ke liye hathiyar bana rakha hai (Secondly, the govt has made weapons to protect the country),” Pravesh says.
Kin, Allies Weigh
In As Misa sweats it out to turn the tide in her favour, two recent political developments are likely to help her. First, the party has entered into an alliance with CPI-ML resulting in Left not fielding a candidate against her. Second, Ranjan Yadav who had worked against Lalu in the past has now returned to the RJD fold.
Also, her entire family including mother Rabri Devi, brother Tejashwi and sister Rohini Acharya have carried out intensive poll campaigns, leaving nothing to chance. Also, CM Nitish Kumar’s falling popularity because of his frequent switchovers has come as a boost.