Friendly fight among allies adds to chaos

This uncertainty among voters across the region has left the field open for the best manouvre. In the rice belt of Sasaram and Kaimur, the anti-incumbency sentiment is palpable. But that alone is not sufficient to threaten Laloo in the state where polarisation is along pro-Laloo vs anti-Laloo social formations. Parties will try to cut into RJD’s base votes of the Muslim-Yadav combination.

The line-up of candidates in Sasaram is indicative — LJP has a Dalit Muslim, BSP has a Yadav, and BJP, a backward Kusuwaha against RJD’s Kusuwaha candidate. But Laloo will not let it pass so easily. ‘‘By propping up Muslims and Yadavs, LJP, BSP and Samajwadi Party are helping the BJP,’’ says Laloo — his message is to the Muslims.

Ram Choudhary is a backward Mallah in Ramgarh constituency, bordering UP. RJD minister Jagadand Singh has worked on irrigation and electricity in his constituency but Choudhary is not impressed. He vouches to vote for BSP, which has fielded a Muslim candidate. In the areas bordering UP, the party had made inroads in the 2000 polls — it won five seats, but all five MLAs joined RJD immediately after the elections.

The ‘‘friendly contest’’ between the UPA partners — LJP, RJD and Congress — has added to the confusion. ‘‘If we are voting for Paswan and Congress, are we voting for the RJD or not?’’ asks Shyam Sunder Pandey in Bhabhua.

Indeed, the anti-Laloo wave that Paswan was riding has been tamed because of the dual alliance that Congress has declared. While the upper caste has become suddenly wary of Paswan, the Muslim voters might think he is going to be more a spoiler than an alternative. ‘‘We will not vote for BSP’s Muslim candidate,’’ says Yousuf at Ramgarh.

Anti-incumbency is strong across regions. However, status quo will be threatened if the unrest among Laloo’s Muslim-Yadav base and his upper caste opponents converge at one place. LJP or an LJP-Cong alliance could have been a suitable platform. ‘‘If the Congress had come out against RJD, supporting Paswan, the contest could have been better,’’ says Jugal Kishore Singh.

BKU pledges support to Cong in Haryana

JIND: The Bharatiya Kisan Union on Friday pledged support to the Congress in the February 3 Haryana Assembly elections. ‘‘We would oppose INLD candidates as its government has committed excesses on farmers,’’ BKU president Ghasi Ram Nain said at a rally. Several BKU leaders alleged that when farmers agitated to press the government to fulfill its poll promises, the INLD adopted ‘‘repressive measures’’ and ‘‘victimised’’ them. — PTI