The Hindu : Interesting duel in Bihar bypoll campaign

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Sunday, May 18, 2003

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Interesting duel in Bihar bypoll campaign

By K. Balchand

PATNA May 17. The by-election to the Babubarhi Assembly constituency, in Madhubani district, on May 21, is turning out into an interesting duel, outlining the shape of things to come in the parliamentary elections next year.

While it is a matter of prestige for the RJD, required to retain the seat, which fell vacant with the demise of the former Speaker of the Bihar Assembly, Deo Narain Yadav, the NDA's problem is compounded by the fact that the LJP-led Third Front is striving to prove itself as the real opposition force in the State.

The entire gamut of politics centres around the Brahmin votes, a chunk of which the Congress had in the last elections cornered. This time however, the Congress, being an ally of the ruling RJD is not in the fray.

The Samata Party's predicament arises from its internal differences, which, naturally, the NDA would have to bear. To rub in this weakness, the newly-formed Third Front, yet to be given a formal name though, has fielded a Brahmin candidate. The RJD has fielded the former Speaker's son-in-law, Umakant Yadav, the Samata Party, Brahmdeo Narain Singh, and the Third Front, the NCP candidate, Narain Mishra.

Much is at stake for the NDA. It has to contend with the overtures of the RJD, which, the grapevine has it, is wooing the dissident Samata Party MP, Raghunath Jha, to gain the Brahmin votes. The Third Front has such leaders as the former Chief Minister and NCP leader, Jagannath Mishra, and former Union Minister CPI leader, Chaturanan Mishra, and Bhogendra Jha (former MP).

The RJD supremo, Laloo Prasad Yadav, is scheduled to campaign from tomorrow, while a full NDA contingent is likely to descend here on Monday. The LJP, CPI and NCP leaders too are scheduled to make their presence felt tomorrow in the heartland of Mithilanchal.

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