Speakers Red Test

Imamganj is a tough battle under the shadow of Naxal threat

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Speakers Red Test

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Of the 26 Naxal-hit Assembly segments that will go to polls in the last phase of Bihar elections on November 20,it is Imamganj,the seat of Assembly Speaker and JDU leader Udai Narain Choudhary,that perhaps presents the real litmus test for both the state government and the Election Commission. The rebels have threatened Choudhary,asking him not to contest the polls from here. Worse,the local residents are not too happy with him. Withdrawing his candidature would have meant that the Nitish Kumar government is scared of the Naxals,and losing the seat would mean loss of face for the ruling coalition.

In such a situation,Chief Minister Nitish Kumars rally at Dumaria on Tuesday was one of hope for the NDA. At the centre of the event was Choudharys private secretary Lakhan Lal Verma,coordinating and overseeing the preparations. Verma was seen urging the local people to come out to vote in large numbers. Barely three months ago,he had been abducted by the rebels,only to be released later.

Organising the rally wasnt an easy task. Sanjay Kumar,a Dumaria resident,said: No one was willing to provide mike and tents for the CMs rally due to the threats issued by the Naxals. These were arranged barely an hour prior to the event. Around 15,000 turned up to hear the CM.

Journalists reaching the spot complained that because of the Naxal threat none in the area was willing to speak on record. The Naxals have threatened to chop off their hands if the locals voted on November 20. The Central forces were seen dotting the 40 km stretch from Sherghati to Dumaria. Every vehicle was going through landmine checks. Twelve polling booths have been set up atop hills in this Naxal hotbed and election officials would be sent there amid tight security.

RJDs Roshan Manjhi is all geared up for the contest. Party chief Lalu Prasad,who,too,held a meeting at Dumaria on Tuesday,targeted Nitish Kumar for doing too little in the Naxal belt. Incidentally,the RJD-LJP is the only political outfit to open a makeshift office here for the polls.

Raghu Ram,who attended the CMs rally,said that though theres adequate police deployment,they will have to be cautious. After all,the forces will leave after the election and we will be left to face the rebels. We want to vote. Our children are going to school now. The roads leading to Sheghati and Gaya are smooth. But we are not too happy with Udai Narain Choudhary.

Prakash Kumar,another resident,said: Choudhary hasnt lived up to our expectations. Its Nitish alone who can get people to vote for the NDA.

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Besides Imamganj,all six Assembly segments of Auraganbad and five seats under Gaya have hardly polled above 42 per cent in the past elections. Choudhary,who addressed his voters,spoke in the Magahi dialect in order to strike a chord with the local people. Dumaria ab doob-maria nahi hai,jara jor se taali bajao, he told them. Nitish turned towards the youth and the women. Vote deba na wont you vote?, he asked,and then urged the women to first vote and cook later. If your husbands dont vote,dont give them food, he said to a loud applause and finally,all hands were raised in Choudharys support.