Battle of frenemies: Can BJP trump RJD-Congress to retain both Patna seats?

In 2014, the BJP won both Patna Sahib and Pataliputra seats, but the equations have changed this year

The two parliamentary seats in Patna present a contrasting picture as they gear up to vote on May 19. While nationalism and ‘Modi mania’ are a big pull in the Patna Sahib constituency, Lalu and baalu (sand) are piping the narrative of rashtravaad to the background in the neighbouring Pataliputra. Both the Patna Sahib and the Pataliputra seats came into existence after the delimitation in 2008 and have been won on both occasions (2009 and 2014) by the National Democratic Alliance. 

While actor-tur­ned-politician Shat­rughan Sinha represented Patna Sahib for two consecutive terms, the Pataliputra seat was first won by the Janata Dal (U)’s Ranjan Yadav in 2009, and then by Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav in 2014 on the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. 

This year the battle on both seats is between friends-turned-political opponents.

Patna Sahib is considered a safe seat for the BJP. Even in the 2015 Bihar Assembly election, when the BJP was decimated by the Mahagathbandhan, the party managed to win five of the six assembly segments in the parliamentary constituency. But this time, the election will still be keenly observed for several reasons. Sinha, who recently quit the BJP and joined the Congress, is pitted against Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. Both belong to the upper caste Kayastha community, which has a sizeable presence in the constituency. 

However, the two are said to be “disconnected” with voters. According to Lok Sabha records, between 2009 and 2019, Sinha neither asked a single question nor participated in any debate even as his attendance in Parliament was 67 per cent. However, he has been vocal against the BJP leadership in newspapers and news channels. On the other hand, Prasad, despite having an envious record as an MP, is not known for his public-relation skills. 

Before the filing their nomination papers, both Sinha and Prasad vowed to never speak ill of each-other as a gesture of their friendship.  

In his election campaign, Prasad never forgets to ask people to choose between a “strong prime minister” and a “helpless PM”. He also concludes his speeches usually with “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. On the other hand, Sinha has gone for a frontal attack on the Modi government on issues such as job woes, rural distress and agrarian crisis. However, his poor performance as an MP is proving to be his Achilles heel. “Patna has been always been a BJP bastion. We are patriots and will never choose a traitor,” said lawyer Ripu Daman Singh. 

Ravi Shankar Prasad: The Union minister is the BJP’s candidate in Patna Sahib, but he is not known for his people skills

“Sinha has not done anything for Patna. Show me one road that he  built or one work he completed. He was not even supposed to win the last election but won due to Modiji. Now he is attacking the same person” said shopkeeper Ambikanand Sahay. 

Misa Bharti: RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s daughter is again in the fray in Pataliputra after she was defeated in 2014

However, these comments don't mean that it will be an easy fight for Prasad. “Like Sinha, we also see Ravi Shankarji on TV only. He doesn’t mingle with the crowd,” said Kalikant Jha, a Boring Road resident. 

On the other hand, the picture is completely different in the adjoining Pataliputra constituency. In this Yadav-dominated constituency, the caste equation has elbowed nationalism into the background. Sitting BJP MP and Union minister Ram Kripal Yadav is once again contesting against Misa Bharti, daughter of his former mentor and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad. 

Shatrughan Sinha: After joining the Congress, he is seeking re-election from Patna Sahib. He has a poor record as an MP

But the going appears to be tough for the BJP candidate this election. “Here all are Yadav and backward caste voters. We will vote for Laluji,” said Chotelal Yadav of Dhudichak village in Masuadhi block, 25 km from the city. When asked for reasons, he said: “Why not? Lalu did a lot for us and gave us respect in society. Modi, Nitish and Paswan conspired and put him in jail.” 

Ram Kripal Yadav: The Union minister and BJP’s Pataliputra candidate was once a close ally of Lalu Prasad

Also, the crackdown on illegal sand mining in Bihar has snowballed into a big electoral issue. Since July 2017, the state government has come down heavily on this illegal trade. However, the crackdown also meant the loss of livelihood for thousands of labourers and a steep jump in sand prices. Opposition parties have bagged this as a lucrative issue. 

“Nitish Kumar broke our back. He snatched food from our mouth. While big players are allowed to mine sand without any check, we have to pay hefty bribes,” said Roshan Yadav.

But supporters of Ram Kripal claim that he has done a lot for the constituency. “Ram Kripalji went the extra mile to ensure completion of work in the area. He constructed roads and erected power lines,” said Pintu Pandey, a shopkeeper in the Naubatpur market.

"It’s true that Ram Kripalji is easily available and visits us frequently. But we didn’t elect him to be present in every wedding, mundan and shradh. We want jobs for our children and respect for our community,” said Sheila Devi, a vegetable seller in Dulhin Bazaar near Patna.