Jan Suraaj’s entry adds twist to Madhubani battle

Madhubani: The battle lines are firmly drawn in Madhubani’s 10 assembly constituencies as the district heads to the polls on Tuesday in the second and final phase of the Bihar assembly elections. The NDA is striving to improve its tally of eight seats – five held by the BJP and three by the JD(U) – while the Mahagathbandhan is pushing hard to raise its 2020 count of two to at least five.However, changing caste alignments, new alliances and the entry of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj as a third force are likely to influence the outcome.In Harlakhi, JD(U) MLA Sudhanshu Shekhar faces a tough challenge from CPI’s Rakesh Kumar Pandey, contesting on the Mahagathbandhan ticket. The presence of Jan Suraaj’s Ratneshwar Thakur, also a Bhumihar, and Independent Md Shabbir, a former Congress candidate who polled nearly 20,000 votes in 2020, could split votes in a constituency with 2.75 lakh electors.The Benipatti seat, with 2.89 lakh voters, witnesses BJP veteran Vinod Narayan Jha seeking re-election against Congress’s Nalini Ranjan Jha. Jan Suraaj’s Md Parvej Alam is eyeing Muslim votes, while a rebel BJP candidate, Dr B. Jha Mrinal, has complicated matters for the incumbent. Dr Jha, a local, “appears to enjoy the backing of a majority of the BJP cadre,” said a party source.In the reserved Rajnagar (SC) seat, BJP’s Sujeet Paswan is up against RJD’s Vishnu Ram.

The BJP replaced its sitting MLA Ram Prit Paswan with a new face. Observers say Paswan “has a fair chance” owing to his popularity, though Jan Suraj’s Dr Surendra Kumar Das may eat into NDA votes.Khajauli sees BJP’s Arun Shankar Prasad battling RJD’s Brij Kishor Yadav. Anti-incumbency could trouble Prasad, though rebel RJD candidate Ram Babu Yadav, contesting as an Independent, might divide the opposition vote and benefit the BJP.The Bisfi seat, dominated by Muslim voters, is among the most watched. BJP’s Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul, known for his hardline stance, faces a tougher battle this time with RJD’s Asif Ahmad, son of Rajya Sabha MP Dr Faiyaz Ahmad, and Jan Suraj’s Sanjay Kumar Mishra, a Brahmin candidate, making the contest triangular.In Madhubani, RJD’s Sameer Kumar Mahaseth faces NDA’s Madhav Anand of Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP and Jan Suraj’s Anil Kumar Mishra.

Initially weakened by anti-incumbency, Mahaseth now faces a stronger challenge as Anand “has gained ground” during campaigning. However, discontent among BJP workers over seat allocation to allies could affect NDA’s prospects.Jhanjharpur is considered a stronghold of industries minister Nitish Mishra, who faces Mahagathbandhan’s Ram Narain Yadav. Mishra had defeated Yadav by over 40,000 votes in 2020 and is expected to retain the seat.In Phulparas, JD(U) minister Sheela Mandal faces Congress’s district president Subodh Mandal. Despite anti-incumbency, Sheela Mandal has “deployed all her resources” to hold the seat, relying on the formidable MY (Muslim-Yadav) combination.In Laukaha, RJD’s Bharat Mandal, facing discontent over performance, is locked in a tight contest with JD(U)’s Satish Kumar Sah, son of former minister Hari Sah.