Lok Sabha polls: In Bihar, inflation, jobs are top issues but don’t cross caste lines

Incidentally, for all the political energy being lost on the issues of inheritance tax and reservation, people here are barely even talking about them.

While on unemployment, the unanimous argument among supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to be the BJP line that government can’t give jobs to all or that there are other pluses to the Modi government, some people make amusing excuses for inflation. These range from price rise being a result of population explosion to Bangladeshi “infiltration”. There are others who cite TINA (there is no alternative).

Amit Kumar, 32, a small businessman in Madhepura belonging to the Halwai caste, says inflation has reached its zenith under the Modi regime but income is not increasing proportionately.

“Small businessmen like us have suffered the most under Modi. Only big businessmen have prospered. But what to do, there is no option. Ek taraf gaddha to dusri taraf aag hai. Paani hai hi nahi. After all, it is because of Modi today that Pakistan is not able to even throw a stone at us. Article 370 has been removed and the Lord has got his place, not just in India but even in Dubai,” he says.

In Bhagalpur’s Sabor area, Mukesh Chaudhary is equally perturbed with inflation and unemployment but he is voting for Modi because “woh desh ke liye kaam kar rahe hain. Agli peedhi ki zindagi ban jaegi (He is working for the nation. The next generation will live better).”

In the adjacent Munger constituency, Shatrughan Sahani, a Mallah who sells bananas on a cart, is an ardent supporter of Modi. He promptly lists the reasons: the Ram temple and “restoration of Hindu pride for the first time” after the Mughal invasion. “Ek hi to Hindu neta hai desh mein (There is only one Hindu leader in the country),” he says.

He concedes there is inflation, but says, “Once Modi government kicks out all Bangladeshis and Pakistanis from the country, inflation will come down automatically.”

Deepak Chaurasia, a paan shop owner, has concerns on inflation being overpowered by nationalism.

“People are really suffering because of inflation. People who come to my shop talk about it all the time. But they have no option but to vote for Modi. Arrey, desh bachega tabhi to hum bachenge (We will survive only if the country survives),” he says.

Shivpujan Mandal, a Dhanuk tea stall owner in Supaul, believes inflation is rising because of the rising population. “Nobody can do anything about it,” he says.

In Sitamarhi, Suansh Thakur, a Nai by caste and profession, is not even ready to accept there is price rise or unemployment, or for that matter even poverty, in Bihar. “Every day motorcycles are being sold and people are eating mutton and rice,” he says, declaring that he is voting for Modi.

Ditto for Ghanshyam Prasad, 60, from Raxaul. “There is no mehengai. People used to eat mutton once a year when it was Rs 50 a kg, now it is Rs 600 a kg and they are eating every day,” he says, emphasising that he has seen Lalu raj and does not want it back.

In Motihari, Ashok Das, a Tatava EBC from Bankat who works as a mason, is also suffering price rise but blames unscrupulous businessmen who hoard grains. “Modi is providing relief through free ration. The bigger issue is if Modi is not there, Pakistan will enter the country,” he says.

Sanjay Jaiswal in Lauriya, which falls under Valmiki Nagar constituency, says, “People are indeed suffering price rise and unemployment. But two-three temples more and then we will bid adieu to Modi.”

Kishandev Pandit, a Kumhar (OBC) from Kapaardhikka village in Valmiki Nagar constituency, would rather have a change of government.

“The farmer is selling rice at Rs 20 a kg and buying at Rs 40 a kg. Will the temple give us food. It would have been better if that money was used to open schools and hospitals. Government has installed smart meters which have increased electricity bills. Modi has sold everything,” he says.

Shivshankar Singh, a Rajput YouTuber in Madhepura, tries to add some perspective.

“The voter is merely justifying his preference by defending inflation with inane reasons. In fact, the joke going around in some circles is that ‘Ab Ki Baar, 400 Paar’ could well be a slogan for mustard oil prices. Voters have been injected with poison. As long as it will have its effect, this will continue,” he says.

At Sitamarhi’s labour chowk, daily wagers from villages around the town talk about lack of work and inflation.

Raghunath Sahu, a daily wager of Kalwar (OBC) caste, says, “Prices are so high that it has become difficult to arrange two meals a day. We don’t want free ration. Just make sure we get work every day and we will buy whatever we want at whatever price.”

But he holds Chief Minister Nitish Kumar responsible for price rise. “After all it is his government in Bihar.”

Vijay Kumar, a Koeri, chips in with details of how Modi built the Ram temple in Ayodhya, led the country to the “top spot” in the world, which has now accepted it as “guru”, and is exporting missiles to other countries, as Badri Rai, a Yadav, and Sattar Ansari look on with a smile.

Ansari concedes that Modi has done good work for the country. “Bas ladwane wala kaam thik nahi kiye (Only he shouldn’t be creating divisions),” he says.

When asked about talk of reservation being removed, they say in unison, “Nothing of that sort is going to happen.”

There is similar disdain for the issue of “inheritance tax”. If Amardeep Yadav from Madhepura says it is not possible to do so, Mohit Kumar, an EBC daily wager in Motihari, brushes these aside as political rhetoric of no consequence.

“Koi na kisi ka gehena le sakta hai aur na koi reservation hata sakta hai. Sab bakwas hai. Lekin Modiji par vishwas hai. Wo jo karenge thik hi karenge (No one can take anyone’s ornaments, nor can anyone remove reservation. It is all rubbish. But we trust Modi ji, whatever he does will be right),” he says.