Munity on board: The case of rebellious 'damaads' in Bihar polls

Sons-in-laws of prominent politicians are rising against their in-laws, observes M I Khan

Son-in-laws of former Bihar chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha president Jitan Ram Manjhi and Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan have revolted and have announced that they will be contesting the Bihar assembly polls after being denied tickets from their respective parties.

Also, a son-in-law of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad will campaign against his father-in-law’s party during the polls.

Manjhi's son-in-law Devendra Kumar Manjhi has openly revolted against him by announcing that he will contest from the Bodh Gaya assembly constituency in Gaya district.

Devendra was keen to contest polls from Bodh Gaya, a reserved seat, as a HAM candidate, and was hopeful to get a ticket. But instead, the Bharatiya Janata Party has announced its candidate for that constituency.

“I will contest from Bodh Gaya after HAM denied me ticket," Devendra told rediff.com.

Devendra added that his father-in-law has managed a ticket for his son Santosh Kumar. “This exposes his double standards,” he said. Santosh is contesting from the Kutumba assembly seat as a HAM candidate.

Paswan's son-in-law Anil Kumar Sadhu (pictured, top) has also revolted and blamed the former for denying the ticket to contest polls.

"I will contest against the LJP's candidate and will join Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party, which has formed a third front along with six parties," Sadhu said.

Sadhu, who was heading the Dalit Sena in Bihar, blames Paswan's son Chirag for the denial of ticket.

The LJP suspended Sadhu from the party for six years after he revolted in public.

Lalu's youngest son-in-law Tej Pratap (pictured, extreme left. Also seen are Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav) is a leader of Samajwadi Party and the grand-nephew of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

After the SP chief walked away from the grand alliance of the Janata Dal-United, the RJD and the Congress and decided to contest polls along with other parties as a third front, Pratap decided to campaign against the RJD.

The SP’s Bihar unit president Ram Chander Yadav said that Pratap will campaign against the RJD; and particularly against his two brother-in-laws contesting polls for the first time.

"We will invite Pratap to campaign against Lalu's sons,” he said.