RJD seeks to revive fortunes in Krishnaganj

In his maiden bid to enter the state assembly from this constituency, Taslimuddin will have to use all his political savvy to nip the stiff competition from political rivals.

Situated near the Indo-Nepal border and a corridor to the North-eastern states, the area is known for alleged ISI activities. Bengali Muslims among the electorate are in a position to influence the outcome of the electoral battle.

Taslimuddin, stripped of his post of Union minister of state for home in the Deve Gowda cabinet for alleged criminal credentials, is sparing no effort to snatch the seat from Congress MLA Rafiq Alam, who had wrested the seat from the undivided Janata Dal in 1995 polls.

An old war horse with a chequered political career, the RJD leader had won the Joikihat assembly seat in 1969, 1977, 1980 and 1985 elections and Araria assembly seat in 1972. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha from Purnia in 1989 and from Kishanganj in 1996 and 1998 polls.

He, however, faced a poll reverse in Kishanganj in 1999 Lok Sabha poll by a slender margin of about 8000 votes at the hands of BJP youth leader and Union Minister of state for food processing Sahanawaj Hussain. However, he had led in the Kishanganj assembly segment.

The alleged criminal antecendents of Taslimuddin would have no impact on the assembly poll results as all cases against him were lodged in the nearby Araria district.

With the memories of defeat at the hands of Hussain still fresh on his mind, the RJD leader is banking on Surajpuri Muslims, commonly known as Bangladeshi Muslims, for a win.