People of Bihar are a politically awakened lot. They vote for political change. It was Bihar where the Congress got its maiden taste of defeat resulting in its present bad times in the national politics. Once again Bihar is poised for a change through the ballot and this time the frustrated pseudo-secular politicians like Lalu, Nitish, Sonia et el are on the target.
If one goes by the writings on the wall in Bihar one can easily conclude that frustrated pseudo secularists in the State are fighting an already lost electoral battle. The indications for this were available from the crowd attending the meetings of various political party bigwigs a few days before the first phase polling.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is BJP’s star campaigner addressed an election meeting which pulled the crowd of over a lakh people in Banka. Sonia Gandhi addressed a meeting in Kahalgaon of Bhagalpur where hardly 20-22 thousand people gathered while the one addressed by AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in Kochadhaman in Kishanganj attracted hardly 5,000 people! Observers are drawing inferences in favour of the BJP and NDA, and that is quite obvious!
Another indication of the popularity of political parties is the crowd in their respective election offices. According to common voters, there is no hubbub of workers in RJD, JD(U) and Congress offices, while the offices of BJP, RLSP, HAM and LJP are live with constant activities and gathering of workers. This is indicating which way the wind is blowing now and will blow after the elections in the State.
BJP national president Amit Shah is inspiring the party activists in his peculiar style encouraging them to work towards achieving a 3/4th majority. On the other hand the Mahagathbandhan leaders are just appealing their workers to work for their victory.
BJP MP Ravindra Kishore Sinha, addressing a rally in Buxar described the mental condition of the Mahagathbandhan leaders. According to Sinha, both Lalu and Nitish have fully understood that they are fighting a lost battle. The expressions of Nitish are indicating to this reality. However, Lalu, wants to be in the limelight by issuing irrelevant statements day in and day out.
At one time he appealed to the ‘Yaduvanshis’ to rise against the ‘Kamandal’. The Election Commission took cognizance of this statement and in case Lalu is found guilty he would face debarment from poll campaigning. In another meeting Lalu on record stated that ‘even the Hindus eat beef’. According to him for those who are non-vegetarian there is no difference between the goat meat
and beef. Lalu himself is a non-
vegetarian.
This statement of Lalu has further heated up the election atmosphere in Bihar. BJP MP Hukumdev Narayan Yadav termed this as an affront on Hindus. He said the Yaduvanshis are basically cattle rearing community and would never concede to eating beef. Bihar Congress spokesman distanced himself and his party from the statement of their ally. Cornered Lalu cursed the Satan for his slip of tongue on beef eating. He unsuccessfully tried to retort by labelling Amit Shah as Narbhakshi (Man eater) and calling Prime Minister as ‘Dhritrashtra’.
However he received back in the same coin from his erstwhile close aide and now BJP Minister Ram Krupal Yadav who said that Lalu himself has become ‘Dhritrashtra’ for
his family and ‘chair’. The five Pandvas of BJP – Nandkishor Yadav, Hukumdev Narayan Yadav, Ramkrupal Yadav, Nityanand Rai, and Omprakash Yadav are ready for the battle. They have cornered Nitish, Lalu and Sonia on this beef issue. BJP leader Giriraj Singh also said that Nitish and Lalu will have to face the public music on this issue.
The issue of age of Lalu’s sons Tejpratap and Tejaswi has also become a matter of concern for the RJD supremo. Tejpratap is contesting from Mahua while Tejaswi is trying his luck from Raghopur. Tejpratap is elder than Tejaswi but he registered his age 25 years while the younger one registered his age 26 years!
Many RJD contestants have criminal background and these facts are now being exposed much to the dislike and discontent of the leaders and voters of the party. Out of 583 contestants 174 are facing criminal cases and 130 are facing more serious cases. RJD contestant from Dehri Iliyas Hussain is facing as many as 9 serious criminal cases. He is the same Illiyas who used to be minister in Lalu’s Cabinet and who would act as a fund raiser for the party. During his tenure the State witnessed the infamous coal tar scandal.
Same is the picture with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U). Here also the contestants face criminal charges and allegations of corruption. His onetime close confidante Anant Singh of Patna is planning to contest polls. Another JD(U) MLA had joined the LJP to contest the elections. SP’s State president Ramchandra Singh had gone underground as he was accused of not giving party ticket even after receiving money. He is evading arrest warrant.
In 2005, Bihar voters voted for development but their dreams are shattered today. The process of development has come to a standstill with Nitish divorcing from BJP. Various pre-election surveys and mood of the voters are also indicating towards the change in Bihar. However, the people of Bihar will have to wait till November 8 to celebrate Deepavali.
During his rallies in Munger, Begusarai, Samastipur and Navada on October 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the youth of Bihar would change the State’s destiny. He said the people in the poll-bound State should vote to end ‘jungle raj’.
Taking a dig at the government’s response to the announced special package worth Rs 1.65 crore to Bihar, Shri Modi said, “The people want development, not false promises about special packages”. He also launched an attack on Lalu Yadav’s remark on Hindus eating beef, saying, “Lalu Prasad Yadav has insulted the Yadav community by commenting on what they eat.” Saying that Yadavs had given Bharat the white revolution, he said those questioning the community are ‘insulting Bihar’.
Dubbing the Mahagathbandhan as the maha-swaarth-bandhan (grand ‘selfish’ alliance), Shri Modi said the alliance is like the house of Big Boss. “They don’t trust each other. They cannot stand each other. But they still want to form a government together. Before you vote, ask yourself — What has the maha-swaarth-bandhan done for you in the past 60 years?” In Samastipur he said if the two most important assets for Bihar are paani (water) and jawaani (youth) are properly utilised, the picture of not only Bihar but of the entire country will change.
Sanjeev Kumar from Patna
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