Prestige of Nitish at stake in Nalanda

Nalanda (Bihar), Nov 4: The Nalanda parliamentary constituency, a seat of prestige for the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is all set for the by election on November 6 in which the JD(U) is maintaining an edge over other candidates.

The constituency, vacated by Mr Kumar himself who belonged to the Nalanda district, is experiencing a kind of Nitish wave. Mr Kumar is not taking any chance and was conducting a whirlwind tour of the entire constituency to ensure the victory of JD(U) candidate Ramswaroop Prasad who represents the Islampur assembly constituency in the state assembly.

The NDA, particularly JD(U) is at on advantageous position as six assembly seats of Nalanda Parliamentary constituency is currently in the NDA fold. Except Rajgir assembly segment, the other five -- Biharsharif, Nalanda, Islampur, Hilsa, Chandi and Harnauth were represented by the JD(U) and the Rajgir seat is in the grip of its alliance partner, the BJP.

Nalanda being the home district of Mr Kumar is considered to be a strong hold of the JD(U). The political pundits, however, feel that the rebel JD(U) candidate Arun Kumar, contesting independently with the support of the RJD Chief Lalu Prasad is giving a good fight to Ramswaroop Prasad. Some of the forward group patricularly belonging to Mr Arun Kumar's case and a sizable number of RJD voters were gearing up in his favour.

By fielding its old parliamentarian Gaya Singh, the CPI has also thrown its hat here in the battle ground and its candidate is likely to split the secular votes. Mr Singh is also banking upon the cadre votes of the CPI. Interestingly, both Mr Singh and Arun Kumar belonged to the same caste.

Mr Brahmanand Mandal, contesting for Samata Party, (which is almost defunct organisation) is trying hard to make his presence felt here while a muscleman, Ashok Mahto, constesting from jail might cause a dent in the votebank of JD(U) candidate as both belonged to a particular caste. Mr Mahto, a history sheeter, had been lodged in Nalanda jail and was in the fray as an independent.

The caste equation which used to be a prime factor in the voting pattern in almost all elections in Nalanda constituency, this time appears to be in favour of Mr Kumar as the electorate were proud of being inhabitants of the home district of the Chief Minister. The districts no doubt facing several odds in the absence of basic infrastructure but the people here had high hopes from the chief minister and appeared in a mood to give chance to the JD(U).

Earlier this seat was won by the senior JD(U) leader George Fernandes in the Lok Sabha elections in the year 1999. Honouring suggestions of his party leaders Mr Fernandes had given up his old Lok Sabha seat, Muzaffarpur and had contested from Nalanda. Mr Fernandes, with the full support of Nitish Kumar, was declared victorious. However in the parliamentary elections held in the year 2004, Mr Kumar due to some political reasons, had replaced Mr Fernandes and latter had to fight the battle against from Muzaffarpur seat.

During the last Lok sabha elections Mr Kumar had contested from Nalanda and Barh seats. However, he had to taste a defeat from Barh parliamentary constituency. Mr Kumar derived the political mileage from the developmental works including that of an ordnance factory and others done by his predecessor and was declared victorious from Nalanda seat.

After becoming chief minister of the state on November 24, 2005, Mr Kumar vacated Nalanda parliamentary seat and was now conducting door-to-door campaing in favour of his party candidate. The independent candidate Arun Kumar, with the help of RJD supremo and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, is camping in Nalanda to mobilise the voters in his favour.

The National leaders of other political parties, including CPI, CPM, LJP and NCP were also campaigning in favour of the left party candidate but a direct fight appears between Mr Ramswaroop Prasad and Mr Arun Kumar in which the former seems to have an edge over the latter.

UNI