India General Elections 2024: How is it defending a 1,700-vote win amid growing displeasure?

Chandeshwar Prasad, who is contesting the Jehanabad Lok Sabha seat on a JD(U) ticket

The incumbent MP of this Lok Sabha constituency, Chandeshwar Prasad, is sweating bullets as political temperatures soar amid an interesting fight among the Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party and an independent candidate who filed his nomination late. Prasad, the JD(U) candidate, had won the 2019 poll by a margin of 1,751 votes, dethroning Dr Arun Kumar, who is contesting the election on a BSP ticket this time.

Prasad is facing protests by people in his constituency as locals have been asking him, ‘Where were you in the past five years?'. Many locals on the conditions of anonymity told mid-day that Prasad had never visited his constituency since he came to power. "But today he is roaming the villages requesting people to vote for him," said a person close to Prasad.

The BSP candidate and former MP Dr Arun Kumar, a Bhumihar who enjoys the support of Dalits

"Though I am visiting with him [Prasad], I don't think he will win this time. Voters are very annoyed with him, and JD(U) heavyweights are also worried about securing Jehanabad seat," he added. As young electors at many villages in the Jehanabad seat have shooed the sitting MP away, the JD(U) has been trying to do damage control, sending big leaders, including Munger's sitting MP Lalan Singh, to the constituency to influence upper-caste voters into opting for Prasad.

Caste equations

All the political parties have fielded candidates keeping in mind the caste-sensitive Lok Sabha constituency of Jehanabad, whose soil was soaked in blood in the 1990s. The electoral contest in the seat where Bhumihars, Yadavs, OBCs and Dalits reside in their respective enclaves epitomises the prevalence of caste politics in Bihar. The RJD has fielded a muscleman, Surendra Yadav. The BSP candidate, Dr Arun Kumar, is a Bhumihar, an upper caste comprising landlords.

There are more than 16 lakh voters in the constituency which is dominated by Bhumihars and Yadavs. As parties are trying to woo voters from the two arch-rival communities, tickets have been given to candidates belonging to either. Voters belonging to Kushwaha, Muslim community and landless SC/ST will also play a major role in the electoral battle.

Surendra Yadav, the RJD candidate and muscleman

The majority of upper castes in Bihar support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). As JD(U)'s Prasad belongs to the Chandravashi community, there is talk of Bhumihars being dissatisfied. In Jehanabad, Yadav and Bhumihar candidates have come to power nine and seven times respectively. Voters in Jehanabad tend to support candidates from their own caste regardless of their criminal history or development record. After speaking with many voters in Jehanabad, mid-day learnt that many of those who voted in favour of the JD (U) in the last general election plan to support Dr Kumar.

Bloody past

Jehanabad witnessed carnage in the 1990s when hundreds of people from backward classes and Dalits were ruthlessly murdered during the regime of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Bloodshed occurred at Bara village in 1992, after members of the oppressed community ruthlessly slit the throats of 40 people belonging to the Bhumihar caste in the Gaya district, reportedly due to a property dispute with the landlords. The Jehanabad carnage was the consequence of the Bara massacre where Bhumihars were primarily targeted. So intense were the hatred and anger of the attackers that scores of people were ruthlessly put to death.

Yadav vs Yadav vs Kumar

The RJD candidate Surendra Yadav had his hopes pinned on getting Yadav votes but the sudden entry of an independent candidate will make a huge dent in his votes share. The former parliamentarian Dr Kumar, enjoys the support of Dalits. Local sources told mid-day that Dr Kumar is set to get the Bhumihar and Dalit vote this election, "as he has done a lot for the oppressed people from the SC/ST communities".

Chandeshwar Prasad, who is contesting the Jehanabad Lok Sabha seat on a JD(U) ticket

This time, Yadav's chances of victory were high until a former RJD leader Munilal Yadav filed his nomination as an independent candidate from the Jehanabad constituency. Now, the Yadav votes are expected to be divided. "Munilal will certainly make a dent in the bastion of Surendra Yadav," hoped the source. Sources close to Surendra Yadav said he has been tense since Munilal announced his candidature.

"But Munilal Yadav is equally worried, as he had hoped to contest on an RJD ticket. However, despite assurances from top RJD leaders, the ticket was given to Lalu's blue-eyed candidate Surendra Yadav," said a local source. "Therefore, the disgruntled Munilal has jumped into the arena as an independent candidate. His Yadav votes have a significant influence. If they stand firm, they could cause considerable damage to the RJD candidate," the source added.

Munilal filed his nomination as an independent as he was suspended from the RJD for six years for not following the party line. With the polling date inching closer, all the candidates have intensified their road shows, public meetings and rallies in Jehanabad, which is hardly 50 km from Bihar's capital Patna.

3,35,584
Votes polled by Prasad in 2019

17 Lakh
No of voters in Jehanabad LS seat