BJP, JD-U mull over Begusarai’s candidate

Patna: Amid reports of simmering discontent within NDA over seat sharing issues, the BJP has started looking for suitable candidate to contest from Begusarai where former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar is likely to be fielded as a joint candidate of the grand secular alliance.

The Begusarai constituency is currently being represented in Lok Sabha by Bhola Singh but sources claim that the BJP may deny ticket to him due to various factors including his age. Sources claim that RJD chief Lalu Yadav has already agreed to vacate the Begusarai constituency for Kanhaiya Kumar but a formal announcement is likely to take place only after seat sharing is finalized among all allies. Reports from BJP, however, suggest that the party has prepared a list of leaders with strong political backing in Begusarai. Political analysts are of the opinion that the BJP may field a candidate who has emerged as a strong Hindutva face in Bihar.

However, BJP leaders when contacted for their comments on the issue said, “Such things can be decided only by our parliamentary board. NDA will return in 2019 with a thumping majority”. BJP’s Bhola Singh had emerged as a winner in the 2014 general elections by defeating the RJD candidate Tanveer Hasan by 58,000 votes. CPI candidate came third. Political observers say that the district was once known as “Leningrad of Bihar or little Moscow” due to its long history of struggle between landless farmers and the landlords. Observers recall that the district remained the stronghold of left parties till late 1980s or early 90s but started losing support after the emergence of regional parties in the state. Kanhaiya Kumar being considered as a joint candidate by the grand secular alliance here has given hope to the left parties who have been trying to regain its support base in Begusarai.

However, CPI-ML activist Parvez Alam  said that the main agenda of the left unity  is to stop “fascist forces” from returning to power in 2019.