Bihar election a big issue at tea stall discussions here
VARANASI: As the ongoing Bihar assembly polls progress and war of words intensifies, those interested in political discussions here in Varanasi are leaving no chance to be a part of the debates that take place at Pappu tea stall in Assi area these days.
It is 7:30am. Tea is boiling and so is a debate over the ongoing Bihar polls at the tea stall. With the daybreak, a spicy debate begins over the issue and continues till noon at this tea stall famous for serving tea with a unique taste.
Several locals, including retired officials, professors, politicians and commoners participate in these debates with enthusiasm. Bihar border is around 70 kilometre off Varanasi—the population of which has about 20 per cent people from Bihar.
“The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in a strong position in Bihar. Nitish Kumar will retain his chief ministership. There is no doubt in it,” opines Dr Rajendra Singh, a retired BHU official and a regular to the stall.
As Singh completes his statement, socialist Badriji claims, “The NDA lost its sheen and ground in Bihar due to growing unemployment, inflation and anti-farmer moves like farm bills. While the ruling alliance struggles to arrange crowd in its rallies, massive crowd emerges in each rally of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Visibly, the grand alliance is far ahead of the NDA.”
He further claims that there are clear signs that the grand alliance will come to power in the neighbouring Bihar.
Kunwar Suresh Singh, another socialist who joins the
debate, says, “The NDA faces many challenges in Bihar. One is anti-incumbency factor. Secondly, commoners are angry due to rising inflation and the youth due to growing unemployment. The NDA government has badly failed on the two fronts.”
People want a change, Singh says, claiming that Bihar election results will bring about a change in the national politics. Meanwhile, Dr Deenbandhu Tiwari, a professor of sociology at Lal Bahadur Shastri PG College, Mughalsarai, walks in and takes his seat at a bench.
Dr Tiwari listens to the debate while sipping tea. Soon he also joins and says, “Usually, caste factor plays a dominant role in assembly elections in Bihar. However, this time the scenario is entirely different due to the growing unemployment and inflation coupled with anti-incumbency.”
“In this election, these three factors together have blurred the caste lines. Irrespective of their castes, the youth have joined hands in support of the grand alliance,” feels Dr Tiwari. He, however, observes if there is division in minority votes, it will
benefit the ruling alliance.
“Among Bihar’s natives settled in Varanasi, around 30 percent are NDA supporters because these people shifted to Varanasi due to strong influence of OBCs and Dalits during the rule of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav,” Tiwari says.
Ramakant Tiwari, a teacher, further spices up the debate by making a claim that the Congress would win around 40 seats this time.
“Commoners are upset with the skyrocketing prices of vegetables and the youth are angry due to unemployment. The Centre and the Nitish government in Bihar have badly failed on these fronts,” Tiwari says.
Plight of the farmers is an open secret, Tiwari says, adding that the government claims that it is taking steps to double the income of the farmers. Visit any farm or speak to any farmer, the stark reality will come to the fore, Tiwari claims.
Udaynarayan Pandey, a retired government official, categorically rejects Tiwari’s claim. “This inflation is artificial. Before each election onion lobby of Maharashtra deliberately increases prices of onions. This is an open secret now. Therefore, onion prices will have no negative impact on Bihar election,” Pandey says and adds that Nitish Kumar has carried out development across Bihar.
Unemployment is an issue. But it will not have a major impact since people still remember the ‘jungle raj’ during the rule of the RJD in Bihar 15 years ago, Pandey says.
Pandey, Singh and many others at the tea stall claim that the NDA has bright prospects, while socialists and Congress supporters reject their claim.
Senior BJP leader Ashok Pandey says people of Varanasi take a keen interest in discussion regarding assembly polls of Bihar because it is a neighbouring state and a large number of people from Bihar are settled in Varanasi. Nitish Kumar lived in Varanasi for a long time, he added.
In the meantime, the clock strikes 11.30am and the debate concludes only to resume the next morning with same fervour.