Patna: In the Begusarai constituency in northern Bihar, the flag of the Bharatiya Janata Party has been hoisted high in the past two Lok Sabha elections, but this time sitting MP and Union Minister Giriraj Singh has opposed anti-incumbent and other opposition parties. The CPI is hopeful of wresting seats from the saffron party considering the factors faced. .
Leningrad in Bihar
Begusarai has long been known as the “Leningrad of Bihar” or “mini-Moscow,” as the CPI was seen as a formidable force against the feudal system allegedly enforced by Congress in the region for decades. This is because of its rise to prominence. Begusarai was once considered the most industrialized region of the state. Rashtra Kabi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar was also born in Similia in Begusarai district.
past perfect
In the triangular 2019 elections, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Giriraj defeated CPI candidate and former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) member Kanhaiya Kumar. While Giriraj got around 700,000 votes, Kanhaiya, who is contesting elections on a CPI ticket, got 270,000 votes and RJD candidate Tanweer Hassan had to contend with 198,000 votes. .
Mr. Giriraj received 56.48% of the votes compared to 22.03% for Mr. Kanhaiya. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Bhola Singh defeated RJD candidate Tanveer Hassan in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
USP
The BJP has fielded Giriraj from Begusarai, a firebrand leader known for his tough stance on Hindutva. His comments on Hindutva and Hinduism resonated across the country. Politics in Begusarai mainly revolves around the politically dominant ‘Bhoomihar’ caste. Both once and every time, only Bhumihar candidates won seats. The Congress won the Begusarai seat nine times, while the JDU and the BJP won it twice each. In 1967, the CPI won from here when its candidate Y. Sharma defeated Congress leader Mishra.
decipher the battle
Even as the CPI raises issues such as unemployment and migration from the region, the BJP is trying hard to make the contest more Modi-centric. Giriraj’s own personal image puts him in an advantageous position as he is also credited with reviving the Barauni fertilizer factory.
His firebrand image was unmatched and he already had an initial advantage, Bharatiya Janata Party supporters said. Upendra Prasad Singh, former mayor of Begusarai, claimed that Mr. Giriraj will not face any problem even if he is facing an anti-incumbency.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has his critics. Will there be a change?” he asked, adding that in the last election, Kanhiaya won the votes of some Bhumihar residents and young people, but this time the CPI He said that he would not be able to get enough votes.
CPI candidate Awadhesh Rai (Yadav) is hopeful of doing well in the elections. The CPI candidate also calls himself a local while calling Giriraj an outsider. Giriraj falls under Barahiya in Laksarai district. The CPI’s optimism primarily stems from the fact that unlike 2019, when it was stuck in a triangular relationship with the BJP and the RJD, this time it will have a direct showdown with the BJP. The main grudge against Giriraj among voters is that he is unapproachable and not easily available, and the CPI is trying to take full advantage of that.
Published on: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 9:32 AM IST
