Bihar polls a litmus

The exercise,say insiders,is a prelude to the 2012 elections in UP and the Bihar test will strengthen or weaken their chances of getting a ticket. The BJP,in alliance with the Janata Dal (United),is contesting 102 seats in Bihar. And though the elections may be different from that of UP,the Central Committee is keeping a close watch on these leaders.

“The issues may be different,but it is the most similar state to UP in terms of political activity and worker management,” said a leader in Delhi.

The leaders sent include vice president Mahendra Singh,organisational secretaries Ashok Tiwari,Rajendra Singh,Somdutt Vajpayi,Dr Pankaj Singh,Amrendra Singh,KC Dixit,Hemant Pathak and Ramakant Rai.

While Mahendra Singh has been given charge of 15 constituencies in Siwan,Chhapra,Gopalganj and Vaishali districts,the others are handling constituencies in Darbhanga,Madhubani,Patna,Bhagalpur,Saran,and Buxar.

The party’s state vice president,Mahendra Singh,said: “We have been camping in these constituencies since the day of nominations. From booth management and deciding different teams to creating the poll strategy,we are doing everything.” The leaders deputed,he said,are also addressing public meetings in favour of the candidates. “The party is certainly going strong in atleast 9 out of the 15 seats under me,” he added. For the fourth phase,Singh will be going to Ara.

“Bihar elections are a big challenge for us and we want the party to win with a record vote share,” he said.

When the team was announced,the members were accused of being the favourites of party chief Surya Pratap Shahi. It was alleged that most of them never worked at the ground level. The results will be an acid test of these allegations too.

“We have got a chance to show that we are worthy of being given important positions,” said one of the deputed leaders. “When my constituencies win with a record margin,I will be able to shut my rivals up,” he added.