Caste arithmetic at play as JD(U), RJD set to slug it out in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ: Two major alliances in Bihar – NDA and Mahagathbandhan – have fielded ‘lesser-known’ debutants in Gopalganj reserved parliamentary constituency, which happens to be RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s home turf.


While RJD has fielded Surendra Ram ‘Mahan’, husband of chairperson of Barauli block in the district, JD(U) has fielded Dr Alok Kumar Suman, a medical practitioner.

Both belong to Ravidas (cobbler) community as Gopalganj is a reserved constituency.

The seat was won by BJP’s Janak Ram in 2014 general election, but it went to JD(U)’s kitty as part of the seat- sharing arrangement in the NDA.

The NDA is banking on its traditional forward caste votes in the Brahmin-dominated constituency and the RJD on its Muslim-Yadav (MY) votes.

Apart from Brahmins, other Hindu castes which form a sizeable population in Gopalganj include Bhumihars, Koeris, Kurmis, Kushwahas and Mahadalits.

The two candidates are claiming that they have the support from people from all caste groups. “I have votes from all communities, including the forward castes as I have been connected with them from past several years. I started my political career as a worker of Bahujan Samaj Party during my college days in 1995. Later, I entered active electoral politics as a member of RJD in 2015,” RJD nominee Surendra Ram told TOI.

He also attacked his main contender, JD(U)’s Dr Suman. “Doctor sahab is a rich person, so he got a ticket to contest the elections. But he is a non-political person and people don’t know him. The electors won’t vote for a candidate who will remain confined to his chamber.”

Though Gopalganj is primarily known in political circles as the birthplace of Lalu, political observers said the incarcerated RJD chief made Saran and Madhepura constituencies his base as they had Yadavs as largest chunk of electors, rather than his home turf where Brahmins form the biggest chunk of electors.

Initially a Congress stronghold, Gopalganj had made the erstwhile Janata Dal , Samata Party and RJD candidates victorious in the past general elections. RJD had won the seat in 2004 when Anirudh Prasad Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav, the brother of party’s national vice-president Rabri Devi, defeated Prabhu Dayal Singh of JD(U).

JD(U), however, took revenge in the next general elections held in 2009 as its nominee Purnmasi Ram defeated Anil Kumar of RJD. In 2014, Janak Ram of the BJP defeated Dr Jyoti Bharti of the Congress by 2.86 lakh votes.

However, the electors supporting RJD claimed that the party would win the constituency this election as caste equation is in favour of Mahagathbandhan. “Apart from getting majority of its traditional MY votes, RJD nominee will also sizable chunk of Mahadalit and Kushwaha votes. Besides, the party candidate will get votes of electors loyal to Congress and CPI (ML),” said Dinanath Chaudhary, a farmer in Bhorey block, adding people are angry with CM Nitish Kumar for leaving Mahagathbandhan to join NDA.

Similar views were echoed by Kanteya-based farmer Kaushal Kishore Mishra. “Social equation is in favour of the RJD nominee. Besides, people are not happy with the work done by the sitting BJP MP. They will vote for RJD candidate,” Mishra said.

However, a large section of electors also spoke about favourable social equation for the NDA nominee. “Apart from forward caste votes from Brahmin, Bhumihar, Rajput and Kayastha communities, smaller castes are also in favour of the NDA,” said Jitendra Prasad, a shopkeeper from Baikunthpur.

Kuchaikot-based farmer Shyam Sundar Tiwari also spoke in support of JD(U) nominee. “Though Dr Suman is a debutant, he will get votes on the basis of good works done by PM Narendra Modi. People are delighted with the ambitious schemes of the NDA government, such as Ayushman Bharat and Ujjwala. The Balakot airstrike will also help the NDA. The JD(U) candidate will get EBC and some Yadav votes as well,” Tiwari said.