Tejashwi attacks Anant, Lalan Singh at Barh

PATNA: RJD’s star campainer and leader of the opposition Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav on Thursday made a guarded attack against the JD(U) in Munger parliamentary segment, saying he and his party had a ‘firm footing’ in the seat and closely watching the ‘unity’ in the rival faction, in an apparent dig at the way strongman and former MLA, Anant Singh was canvassing for JD(U) nominee Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh after getting parole.

“Udhar mein sab mil gaye hai. Lekin janta janti hai sona kaun, pital kaun. Is baar pichara ek hai( There is unity in the rival side but people are aware as who is gold and who is copper, this time backward classes are all united),”Yadav said, in a bid to underline how JD(U) and sitting MP Lalan Singh, seeking re-election, were playing the caste card by using the influence of strongman Anant Singh - hailing from Bhumihar caste to woo upper castes including his own caste men.

Lalan Singh also hails from Bhumihar community, which has a sizeable vote bank in the Munger seat including in Mokama, one of the assembly segments. Anant Singh was released on parole on Sunday ( May 5) for 15 days for addressing ancestral land related matters.

Addressing a rally at Athmalgola, Barh (falling in Munger parliamentary seat near Patna), Yadav appealed to backward classes, extremely backward classes , minorities and dalits to unite to ensure the win of RJD backed INDIA bloc nominee Kumari Anita, who is wife of gangster Asho Mahto who was released from prison a few months before Lok Sabha polls were announced.

Munger seat has become a hot seat in the ongoing polls owing to the seat having a vote base of upper caste Bhumihar and sizeable backward class voters especially dhanuks ( OBC community) , EBCs and dalits int he seat.