Rebels shake up Magadh’s poll scene, trigger triangular contests in key seats

Gaya: Rebels from both the NDA and INDIA bloc, contesting either as independents or as official candidates of Jan Suraaj, are unsettling the electoral equations in Magadh region.

At least three of the 26 constituencies – Govindpur (Nawada), Gurua (Gaya) and Nabinagar (Aurangabad) – have turned into triangular contests due to these rebel entries.In Govindpur constituency of Nawada district, RJD rebel and sitting MLA Md Kamran has filed his nomination as an Independent candidate after being denied a party ticket. Kamran, a politically influential figure in the district, has gone all out in the poll battle, making life difficult for the INDIA bloc’s official nominee, Purnima Yadav of the RJD.According to political observers in Magadh, while other rebels may hurt the prospects of only one alliance, Kamran’s strong showing during his nomination filing suggests he could dent the chances of both Purnima Yadav, the official RJD candidate, and Binita Mehta of the LJP.Local political circles in Nawada suggest that Kamran enjoys tacit support from Rajballabh Yadav, a controversial strongman of the region whose wife recently joined the JD(U) and is contesting the Nawada seat as an NDA candidate.

It is believed that Kamran’s proximity to Rajballabh cost him the RJD ticket, especially after Rajballabh’s wife, a sitting MLA, appeared during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Bodh Gaya.When asked about his alleged links with Rajballabh, Kamran dismissed the speculation. “I enjoy the support of the people of Govindpur and do not need any other support,” he said.Meanwhile, Rafiganj MLA Md Nehaluddin, who was also denied a party ticket, continues to pledge loyalty to the RJD.

Disapproving of Kamran’s decision to contest independently, Nehaluddin said, “Kamran holds an important post as treasurer of the party, and politics is a long-term game.”In the Gurua seat of Gaya district, JD(U) rebel and former MLC Sanjeev Shyam Singh is contesting as a Jan Suraaj candidate. His entry has made the contest virtually triangular and complicated matters for the NDA’s official nominee, Upendra Dangi.

Singh, who has a wide political network, reportedly enjoys strong backing from his caste group and several others who might otherwise have supported the NDA candidate.However, JD(U) leader Jyoti Dangi played down the potential impact of Singh’s candidacy. “Sanjeev Shyam Singh’s entry into the poll battle is unlikely to have any major impact on the outcome,” she said. Admitting that there were some local concerns within the NDA, she added, “These issues will be resolved within the alliance.”In the Nabinagar constituency of Aurangabad district, NDA’s official candidate Chetan Anand faces a stiff challenge from JD(U) rebel Lav Singh. Declaring himself the “real” JD(U) candidate, Lav Singh accused Chetan Anand of being an intruder. “This is a contest between a local and an outsider,” he said. Lav Singh has since been expelled from the JD(U), but continues to project himself as the authentic representative of the party’s local cadre.