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Journalism of Courage
PATNA, FEB 17: There are mixed feelings about RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav’s chances of victory in Raghopur with the sub-caste factor being evident as also the voters’ disillusionment with the ruling party due to lack of development.
The candidate here is Bishundeo Roy, a Yadav, who has earlier in 1995 contested against Laloo Yadav. Roy is the JD(U) candidate from Raghopur. Meera Devi, a rebel candidate, is also in the fray. A Rajpur, Meera Devi has a following in her caste. The Rajputs, who have so far stood behind Laloo Yadav, are seen to be with her this time. Unlike the voters in Danapur from where Laloo has also filed his nomination, the voters of Raghopur are quite vocal. In fact, the chill of the elections is evident the moment one enters the constituency through the pantoon bridge. The people openly discuss the caste equations in this poll.
At Fatehpur, Ram Briksha Roy, a seasoned politicians who has contested many elections, says: “The issue of development has put Laloo Prasad in the dock. Though he will get the support of the Yadavs, they too are divided. The issue of `vinash’ (destruction) vs `vikas’ (development) raised by Nitish Kumar and Ram Vilas Paswan has caught the imagination of the people”. Each time the villagers negotiate a turn in rural or even semi-urban areas, the bumpy roads remind them of the lack of development.
Another disturbing factor for the ruling party is that the river is drying up and there is the fear of vast tracts turning barren in a couple of years. In the last elections, Laloo Prasad worked out a Yadav-Muslim-Rajput winning combination in Bihar. But this time, it seems, the Muslims are not enthusiastic about supporting him.
M D Karin of Bidupur says: “What have we got over these years? Simply promises. You better come here on election day and see what the people of the area do.” Beni Ram of Shialpur is, however, hopeful that his hero would again win hands down from Raghopur.
