For those watching the ongoing Bihar drama from a distance, the State Assembly election may be all about caste polarisation and communal divide. But on the ground, development or the lack of it remains a major factor. If Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hopes to make a clean sweep at his home turf in Nalanda, it is mainly because his work is speaking louder than the shrill poll rhetoric here.
The district goes to poll on October 16.
Excellent network of village roads, power connectivity in even remote villages, empowerment of women through reservation in panchayats, cycles to girl students, improvement in health infrastructure and revival of the Nalanda University have placed Nitish in a position where a favourable caste equation and emotional link with people of his “karmabhoomi” and “janmabhoomi” could come handy for ensuring the victory of the “grand alliance” candidates.
Going to by outpouring of support for Nitish in the seven Assembly segments falling under the Nalanda parliamentary constituency, it will not be a surprise if the NDA fails to open its account here. Veteran BJP leader Satyanarain Arya, an eight-time MlA from Rajgir, is the lone NDA candidate who can hope to stand in the way of tsunami of support for Nitish in the region.
“We have seen what Nitish Kumar had done in the last ten years for us. let them abuse him. We are not blind. Today, we have electricity, roads, health centres and peace,” says Satish Chandra, a chandravanshi (Mahadalit) in Bhaganvigha in Biharsharif.
This correspondent engaged a lungi-clad Yadav in conversation and tried to find out if the Nitish Kumar caste, Kurmi, and Yadav will bury their traditional enmity and vote as one for the “grand alliance” candidates.
“Why notIJ lalu Yadav will remain our leader, but we are committed to make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister, because he has worked sincerely for us,” said
Surendra Yadav.
While this could be far from truth because few Yadavs voted for Nitish in the lok Sabha polls when he was pitted against both the NDA and lalu Prasad’s RJD, but there are clear signs that Yadavs and Kurmis have forged a deep chemistry, which could enable Nitish and lalu to transfer their votes to each other parties.
Deficient rains have affected paddy cultivation in the district known for its agricultural yield and relative prosperity, but few are carping about the lack of irrigational facilities. Of course, such acceptance of Nitish is missing among the Upper Caste voters. They admit he has done good work, but they claim that the BJP was the driving force behind the development of Bihar when it was an ally of the JD(U).
A section of the Upper Caste here would have still voted for Nitish, but lalu Prasad’s battle cry of a caste war has created a deep sense of resentment among them. But the buzz of development is sure to influence floating voters.
The “visible signs of developments” have impacted the Mahadalit voters in a big way. Jitan Ram Manjhi is not factor in Nalanda though Ram Vilas Paswan has established such connect with his castemen across the State that they are bound to ignore anyone else to follow his call.
Nalanda has been a formidable bastion of Nitish for ages. Even when the JD(U) faced rout in Bihar in the 2014 lok Sabha polls, Nalanda did not fall. In addition to Nitish’s personal image, the grand alliance can count on invincible caste arithmetic here. Kurmis, Yadavs and Muslims have a population of nearly eight lakh in the seven Assembly segments.
In the 2010 Assembly polls, the JD(U) won six seats and the BJP one. On most of the seats, RJD candidates were second and polled 30,000 to 40,000 votes. Now that both the JD(U) and the RJD are contesting together, the candidates of their alliance face virtually no challenge.
Rajgir is the only place where the BJP can hope to stop Nitish’s onslaught. In this reserved constituency, Nitish has fielded a young police officer Rajesh Ravi against Arya, who is the senior-most BJP leader in the State. Both the BJP and the RSS have their traditional pockets of influence here, but the voters also seem to have developed some sort of fatigue seeing the same old man returning election after on as their representative.
“When Ravi was posted here as Dy SP, he did very well. He is young and dynamic. We won’t mind giving him a chance,” says Vinod Gupta, owner of a Marwari restaurant in Rajgir.
Gupta pointed out that Nitish got a swimming pool built there, which holds a major charm for the tourists. “The tourist industry is flourishing here and we have no law and order situation. What else can we ask from the State Government,” he said.
Ravi is Paswan and much will depend on whether he can make any dent in the vote of his own castemen who look at Ram Vilas Paswan as their pontiff and his word as their gospel.
In Nalanda Assembly segment, veteran JD(U) leader and Nitish Kumar’s trusted aide Shrawan Kumar faces virtually no challenge. The three-time MlA is riding high on the support of his castemen, Kurmis. Together with the backing of Yadavs and Muslims he is poised score massive victory.
In other Assembly segments--Hilsa, Islampur, Harnaut, JD(U) candidates are way ahead of their rivals.
Nalanda shows that even when discourse has hit gutter-level, image and work still counts.
