Laloo lantern slows down Paswan Express

Paswan supporters say he has brought better rail services to his constituency, his critics say that doesn8217;t matter. There8217;s no electricity in most villages, roads are a nightmare, irrigation facilities are poor, many complain of low wages as farmhands. And, therefore, it8217;s caste they areturning to.

Bimal Kumar of Mukhtiarpur, a prominent Rajput leader, says why he will vote for Paswan: 8220;Last time, Yadavs voted for Paswan but in this election they are with his rival Ram Sunder Das of the RJP supported by Laloo8217;s RJD. Therefore, the Rajputs, Bhumihars and Koiri-Kurmis have lined up behind Paswan.8221;

The Yadavs make up over 3.5 lakh of the voting population and a realignment could mean trouble for Paswan. However, the upper-castes are sympathetic. Says Dayal Singh of Chechar village: 8220;We are Rajputs. We have no option but to vote for Paswan. We are supporters of BJP and Samata Party. Since we have no option, we have decided to vote for Paswan8221;.

In 1996, Das had got a section of the Rajput vote but this time since he8217;s being backed by Laloo, the Rajputs say they aren8217;t divided, they will vote for Paswan.

But backward castes aren8217;t so united. Many of them, especially Dalits, say that Paswan as Railway Minister helped the Yadavs. 8220;He tried to win over Laloo8217;s base by offering Yadavsjobs and contracts, even made them chairmen of several boards,8221; says a Dalit leader. 8220;In the process, he ignored the other castes.8221;

This isn8217;t inaccurate. Paswan8217;s largesse is an issue only among Rajputs and Yadavs, for the Dalits, it doesn8217;t matter. Living by a flickering lantern in Jandaha, Falgu Ram says things haven8217;t chang-ed in 8220;a hundred years.8221; With Paswan, he says, we expected a major break but that hasn8217;t happened. Says Asharfi, a resident of Jadua village: 8220;Last time Paswan was here, he assured me that I would get a job if I come to Delhi. I managed some money and went to Delhi but no one allowed me to see him. I had to return.8221;Paswan8217;s critics say that his cronies amassed wealth during his term as Minister since jobs were sold at a premium. Says Munshi Lal Ray, a minister in the Rabri government, who represents Mahnar in the Assembly: 8220;This is war between a Lakhpati millionaire and a Khakpati pauper. And the Lakhpati will lose. In fact, I have instructed my workers to erect ashamiana so that Paswan sits on dharna since he is going to meet the fate of his leader Sharad Yadav.8221;

That may be overconfidence but the fact is that there8217;s a growing feeling in Hajipur that Paswan8217;s turned arrogant, that he exploits the sentiments of his own caste and has no time for others. Reinforcing this is the emergence of a power-centre around him, headed by his brother Pashupati, his younger brother and his son-in-law and his cousins. Many allege that this is a feudal fiefdom in Hajipur.

Says Rana Ranjit Singh of Bidupur: 8220;Paswan paints himself as a son of the soil. Yes, he was but that was years ago. Many Rajputs are not with him because of this.8221;

Indeed, in the early phase of electioneering, there was a perception that Rajputs would not rally behind Paswan. But the process of consolidation is on even though it8217;s a vote by default.

Meanwhile, Laloo is becoming increasingly assertive. Not one to forget his humiliation at the hands of Paswan and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Laloois going around telling the voters that this isn8217;t a fight for a seat but for Yadav dignity. In many areas, this pitch has worked. Ram Nihore, a Yadav from Raghopur, says that he8217;s convinced Paswan was the man who sent Laloo to jail in the fodder scam.

Ironically, in 1996, Laloo had requested his 8220;Yadav friends8221; to vote for Paswan. This time, his tune is slightly different. 8220;You must ensure that he loses,8221; says Laloo at a campaign rally. 8220;Show him who the real Yadav leader is. Tell him that without Laloo, Paswan is zero.8221;