Facing stiff challenge from a resurgent BJP and RJD of Lalu Prasad, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, seeking an eighth term to Parliament, is finding himself on a sticky wicket in Madhepura Lok Sabha seat nestled along the Indo-Nepal border.
Yadav, who is facing heat from RJD's Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and BJP's Vijay Singh Kushwaha, has won four times from Madhepura - home of BP Mandal, the architect of Mandal Commission report that led to reservation in government jobs for OBCs.
He also won thrice from other constituencies including twice from Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) Lok Sabha constituency. Apart from Yadav and Kushwaha, the 66-year-old veteran politician is up against nine other opponents when this Lok Sabha seat goes to polls on Wednesday.
Pappu Yadav, acquitted in CPI-M leader Ajit Sarkar murder case recently by Supreme Court, has been fielded by Lalu Prasad. The 46-year-old, against whom there are 17 cases pending in which charge has been framed, is seen as Lalu's best bet to defeat Sharad Yadav in this Yadav bastion in northeastern Bihar.
BJP has chosen to tap a prominent non-Yadav caste leader in Vijay Singh Kushwaha, husband of Renu Kushwaha -former minister in Nitish Kumar's cabinet. With her husband going to BJP, Renu has also crossed over.
Billed as a triangular contest among JD(U), RJD and BJP, the constituency, which has over 16.7 lakh electorate, is said to be witnessing sharp polarisation in the wake of hate speech by BJP leader Giriraj Singh. Political observers say, Lalu is catching the imagination of minority Muslims and his Yadav castemen which will help Pappu to go one-up on Sharad Yadav. RJD is relying on 1.5 lakh Muslims here, they say. "Benefits of split between JD(U) and BJP is going in favour of RJD in Madhepura," says Shiv Balak Prasad, professor of Political Science in BP Mandal University.
Considering the dynamic situation, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has camped in Madhepura since April 19 to help his party chief Sharad Yadav sail through rough seas, say analysts. There were reports that Sharad Yadav was offered to contest from Nalanda, home turf of Nitish Kumar, in place of Madhepura but Yadav, however, dismisses this as a BJP "propaganda".
With about 3.50 lakh voters hailing from Yadav caste, Madhepura is considered a happy hunting ground for leaders of the backward caste, who are engaged in agriculture and cattle rearing.
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