Congress state chief battles anti-incumbency in Kutumba

Gaya: But for the profile and prospects of Rajesh Ram, Kutumba would have been just another name in Bihar’s long list of 243 assembly constituencies. It is the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) chief’s candidature from this reserved seat – as the Mahagathbandhan nominee and a possible deputy chief minister if the alliance comes to power – that has drawn national attention to Kutumba.Along with Imamganj, the constituency of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and former assembly Speaker Udai Narain Chaudhary, Kutumba has emerged as one of the most closely watched reserved seats this time.According to the Election Commission records, Rajesh Ram’s official name is Rajesh Kumar, though he is more widely known by his distinctive and, as locals say, “holy” surname.The Kutumba constituency came into existence in the 2010 assembly elections.

Before delimitation, it was known as Deo, a region famous for its historic Sun Temple.Things have not been smooth for the Congress candidate from the very beginning. His troubles started when alliance partner RJD threatened to field its former minister Suresh Paswan from the same seat. For several days, there was uncertainty over whether the Mahagathbandhan would have two candidates contesting from Kutumba. It was only after much negotiation that the RJD agreed to step back, though by then, observers say, the damage had already been done.

Even after this, reports suggest Rajesh Ram has not received the desired level of support from RJD leaders. Some senior figures, including an MP, were said to be lukewarm in their campaigning efforts. As a result, Rajesh Ram has been compelled to focus entirely on defending his own turf in Kutumba, leaving little time to campaign for alliance candidates elsewhere in Bihar.Adding to his challenges is the weight of anti-incumbency.

Having served as MLA for the past ten years, Rajesh Ram faces criticism from constituents who believe his performance record remains modest. His defence, a familiar one among opposition MLAs, is that development projects rarely reach non-ruling party legislators. This argument may have helped him avoid voter anger, unlike his counterparts in Tekari, Sherghati and Wazirganj, but how far this explanation convinces voters remains to be seen.History, too, offers little comfort. According to Election Commission data, no MLA from this constituency, earlier Deo, has ever won more than twice. Rajesh Ram’s father Dilkeshwar Ram and RJD’s Suresh Paswan have each been elected twice. Whether Rajesh can script history by securing a third consecutive win is a question that will only be answered on polling day.His rival, Lalan Ram of the HAM(S), faces an uphill task as well.

Compared to his well-known and resourceful opponent, Rajesh Ram being the son of a former Congress minister, Lalan Ram remains a relatively lesser-known figure. In the 2020 assembly election, HAM(S) candidate Shrawan Bhuiyan lost by 10,000 votes. In 2015, Santosh Suman, son of HAM(S) patron Jitan Ram Manjhi and now the party’s national president, had also lost by a similar margin.

Suman has since entered the Bihar legislative council and serves as a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet.HAM(S)’s poor track record in Kutumba is not Lalan’s only problem. The Paswan community, traditional supporters of LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, are reportedly indifferent – and in some pockets, even hostile – towards the HAM(S) candidate. Winning their confidence poses another challenge.For now, the Kutumba contest remains finely balanced. Both leading contenders carry their own strengths and burdens – Rajesh Ram with his stature and incumbency and Lalan Ram with his outsider disadvantage and limited organisational base. As polling day approaches, even seasoned political observers prefer to wait until Nov 14, the counting day, to know which way the wind will blow in Kutumba.