The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : Chapra factor follows Laloo into Madhepura

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Tuesday, May 04, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

Chapra factor follows Laloo into Madhepura

K. Balchand

MADHEPURA

The arc lights are now on Madhepura in Bihar, not just because of the battle here between the two Yadavs, but also because the Election Commission will be watching the constituency like a hawk following its experience in the Chapra Lok Sabha constituency.

The Chapra factor will naturally follow the Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo, Laloo Prasad Yadav, into Madhepura in his battle against the senior Janata Dal (United) leader and Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Sharad Yadav.

The Chapra fallout has two dimensions. One, it has given the impression that the RJD chief has had the upper hand there and is under no pressure fighting it out with his friend-turned-foe in Madhepura. Secondly, if the Commission takes a decision after the enquiry into allegations of malpractice in Chapra before Madhepura goes to the polls on May 5, it is bound to have an impact here.

Chapra, which went to the polls on April 26, saw Mr. Yadav engaged in a direct contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party nominee and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who has demanded annulment of the elections and a repoll in the entire constituency.

In the wake of the Chapra election, the Commission has taken abundant precautions to monitor the poll in Madhepura and avoid recurrence of similar complaints. With the deputation of an additional observer, there will now be four observers stomping the length and breath of the constituency on polling day.

Significantly enough in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Sharad Yadav had staged a dharna accusing the RJD chief of having rigged the elections. But as things turned out, he won the seat.

Be that as it may, Mr. Laloo Yadav was the man who brought Mr. Sharad Yadav to Madhepura in 1991 and ensured his victory even in 1996. Their relations soured in the wake of the fodder scam, with Mr. Laloo Yadav splitting the Janata Dal and forming his own RJD. Since then he has been striving to pull down Mr. Sharad Yadav.

The RJD chief won in 1998 defeating Mr. Sharad Yadav, but the latter avenged this defeat in 1999. However, the RJD chief is now tall enough to make his presence felt at the national level.

However, this fierce battle is being fought on the strength of two `salas' (brothers-in-law). The Chief Minister, Rabri Devi's brother, Shubash Yadav, RJD MLC, is holding the fort for his brother-in-law, while Mr. Sharad Yadav's brother-in-law, Sanjay Yadav is overseeing things for Mr. Sharad Yadav.

Mr. Shubash Yadav was present even in Chapra on the day of polling. The witty RJD chief has already cracked the joke that Mr. Sharad Yadav would follow in the footsteps of Mr. Rudy and sit on a dharna on May 6. But it is his image,which is at stake here after the Chapra incidents.

Mr. Sharad Yadav has also to contend with the Samata Party nominee, N.K. Singh, who may eat into the Rajput votes. His problem is compounded by the Union Minister of State for Social Justice, Nagmani's appeal to his community, Koeris, not to vote for him. Mr. Nagmani has accused Mr. Sharad Yadav of putting up a candidate in his constituency in Jharkhand to see him defeated.

Mr. Laloo Yadav also has his task cut out; he will have to keep his Yadav-Muslim vote bank intact and ensure that the Lok Janshakti Party chief, Ram Vilas Paswan, transfers his supporters' vote to him.

The RJD chief has launched a massive campaign making the Gujarat genocide a major issue here. His posters highlight one of the riot victims begging for his life. The RJD is using this particular poster in the entire eastern region, which has a good presence of Muslims.

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