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BJP, RJD marshalling forces for battle royale in Bihar

Two major political combinations in Bihar -- one led by the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal and the other by the Bharatiya Janata Party -- are keen on widening their respective alliances in the state by involving other like-minded parties in the ensuing election to the Lok Sabha.

This was revealed by sources within the two major political combines.

They said they were aware of the keen tussle ahead and the challenges they would have to face in the electoral arena.

While the ruling RJD had an electoral alliance with the Congress in the last Lok Sabha election in February 1998, the BJP had fought it on an understanding with the Samata Party.

The RJD-led combine had managed to win 23 of the 54 Lok Sabha seats in the state whereas the BJP-Samata Party alliance romped home with 30 seats.

Former railway minister and senior Janata Dal politician Ram Vilas Paswan had retained his Lok Sabha seat from the state.

RJD sources said they were exploring possibilities of an electoral alliance with all secular forces in the state that were responsible for the fall of the BJP government at the Centre.

The sources said the party is in touch with the Left parties, the Congress and other like-minded organisations to fight the election on a common platform.

Sushil Modi, leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, said the BJP's alliance with the Samata Party would continue and they would also consider an electoral alliance with other parties that had directly or indirectly supported their government at the Centre.

Holding the Congress, RJD and Left parties equally responsible for the mid-term poll, Modi said the people would register their annoyance with these parties through the ballot.

RJD state general secretary Ram Kripal Yadav also termed the mid-term poll "unfortunate". But he claimed that the party's alliance would sweep the election in the state.

He also held the BJP responsible for the current political turmoil in the country, saying that party would not be able to regain power at the Centre.

The state is expected to witness keen electoral contests between political giants. Those in the fray will include RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, Union Cabinet ministers George Fernandes, Nitish Kumar (both Samata) and Yashwant Sinha (BJP), and Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment Babulal Marandi (also BJP).

According to indications, all four Union ministers -- Fernandes (Nalanda), Nitish Kumar (Barh), Sinha (Hazaribagh) and Marandi (Dumka) - will seek re-election from their current constituencies.

The Janata Dal's Paswan is also likely to contest his home constituency Hajipur.

Meanwhile, Bihar Election Commission sources said that owing to the ongoing strike by state government employees, the process of revision of electoral rolls is yet to begin in the state, and may not be completed in time.

UNI

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