LALU & PASWAN WILL BE MISSED IN LS ELECTIONS

Shatru, Kirti Azad may contest on new symbols

In Bihar, the coming Lok Sabha elections will miss two political slalwarts active in parliamentary electoral politics since 1977. RJD president, Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1977, would not be able to contest the elections following his conviction in fodder scam. He is lodged in a Ranchi jail. LJP president, Ram Vilas Paswan, who had earned an entry into the world book of records by winning Hajipur Lok Sabha seat with over six lakhs margin too would be out of elections as he has announced his retirement from electoral politics on health grounds.

The politics in Bihar may witness two other major changes. Shatrughan Sinha, who represents Patna Saheb on BJP symbol, is expected to change his political affiliations for the first time since he became a BJP member in 1989 and may opt for a ticket from RJD. He had called on RJD president Lalu Prasad in jail recently.

Former International cricketer Kirti Azad too would be shifting his affiliation as he has been suspended from BJP for his alleged anti-party activities. He has represented Darbhanga three times and once was member of Delhi assembly too. His father, Bhagwat Jha Azad was chief minister of Bihar. Kirti is likley to be nominated by the Congress.

BJP will be contesting on 17 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats. It had won 22 in 2014 elections, but due to an agreement with the NDA partners, it had to hand over five seats to the JD-U which too would contest on 17 seats. In 2014, JD-U had won two only two seats - Purnia and Nalanda.

The political alignment in NDA has changed since 2014. Back then, JD-U was not its alliance partner and two of NDA allies HAM(S) and RLSP deserted NDA and joined the grand alliance.

Speaking of Grand Alliance, for the majority of seats, the jailed RJD president Lalu Prasad has been given all powers to decide the constituencies, candidates and he would even allot symbols of RJD from the jail.

BJP will also have to search a fresh candidate from Begusarai to face the former JNU students union president, Kanhaiya Kumar, who is being fielded as Grand Alliance candidate. The sitting BJP member from Begusarai, Bhola Singh died recently.

In the last elections, BJP had polled 29.40 per cent votes and won 22 seats, LJP with 6.40 per cent votes had won six seats. RJD had garnered 20.20 per cent votes and four seats while JD-U managed to get 15.80 per cent votes and two seats. RLSP with 3 per cent votes got three seats, while Congress got 8.40 per cent votes and NCP 1.20 per cent votes.

Congress's Ranjit Ranjan from Supaul and Ashrarul Haq from Kishanganj were winners and Tariq Anwar had retained Katihar seat as NCP candidate. Now, he(Anwar) is with the Congress.

Jahanabad in central Bihar, which had elected Arun Kumar of RLSP will have a new face as Kumar has left RLSP and is in negotiation with RJD for nomination. Madhubani too would get a new candidate from BJP as Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav has declined to contest on health grounds.

The key constituencies in the state include - Motihari from where union agriculture minister, Radha Mohan Singh was elected, Nawada - Giriraj Singh ,Pataliputra - Ramkripal Yadav, Buxar - Ashwini Kumar Chaubey, Ara - Rajkumar Singh, Karakat Upendra Kushwaha.