In the electoral landscape of Bhagalpur, Bihar, a notable sentiment among many voters concerning incumbent JD(U) MP Ajay Mandal is his perceived “absence” over the past quinquennium. Despite this, a considerable portion of constituents intend to cast their votes in his favor, viewing it as a step towards bolstering the re-emergence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
Nevertheless, a subset of the populace appears disinclined to extend an unwavering support, expressing a palpable desire for change.
Bhagalpur, with its electorate tallying at 23.30 lakh, stands as one of Bihar’s most sizeable and pivotal parliamentary constituencies, contributing 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha. Preceding the tumultuous events of the 1989 Bhagalpur riots, which saw a tragic toll of over 1,000 lives, this constituency was firmly entrenched in the hands of the Congress. Since those tumultuous times, the electoral seat has witnessed victories claimed by the RJD, JD(U), or BJP.
Renowned for its opulent silk textiles and the aromatic Katarni rice strain, Bhagalpur is slated for polling during the second round of the expansive seven-phase general elections, slated for April 26. Shankar, a local barber, articulated his belief in Mandal’s triumph due to the JD(U)’s alignment with the BJP.
“Despite the glaring lack of tangible accomplishments for our city and constituency over the past quinquennium, the JD(U) MP’s ascendancy seems inevitable due to the steadfast backing of Modi ji. His absence has been conspicuous,” remarked Shankar.
In a similar vein, P N Pandey, a farmer by profession, divulged his intent to cast his ballot for Mandal under a sense of “compulsion,” citing the influence of Modi. This sentiment was mirrored by Amit Kaushik, a youthful entrepreneur, who echoed the sentiment of desiring change within his constituency while harboring a fervent wish for Modi’s return to the helm. Conversely, Shamsher Ansari, a skilled silk weaver, has reached a definitive decision.
“Mandal’s tenure has been bereft of any substantive strides in development throughout the past five years. The once flourishing silk industry now finds itself in dire straits. Therefore, it is prudent to afford an opportunity to the Congress candidate, who presents a more sanguine prospect,” remarked Ansari.
The victory of Mandal in the Bhagalpur seat during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, triumphing over the RJD’s Shailesh Kumar Alias Bulo Mandal by an imposing margin of 2,77,630 votes, is a significant point of reference. This year, Mandal finds himself pitted against Congress’ Ajit Sharma, a three-time MLA and the patriarch of Bollywood luminaries Neha and Aisha Sharma. Mandal, in conversation with PTI, highlighted his entreaty to Prime Minister Modi for a repeat of the latter’s electoral outreach within his constituency, akin to the previous elections.
The Congress’ entry into the electoral fray for the Bhagalpur seat after an extended hiatus has instilled a sense of assurance within Sharma regarding his prospects for victory. The prevailing sentiment among voters, as Sharma observed, is a palpable yearning for change.
Mandal’s track record in Bhagalpur reveals a notable absence of tangible development initiatives, alongside a minimal presence in the parliamentary proceedings, as delineated by Sharma in his exchange with PTI.
“The clamor for progress and the nurturing of the ailing silk industry resonate as core concerns. Development emerges as a pivotal issue this time around, and the INDIA bloc remains steadfast in its commitment,” asserted Sharma.
The distinguished Congress leader Rahul Gandhi graced Bhagalpur with his presence on April 20, lending his support to Sharma while assuring voters of the INDIA bloc’s dedication towards job creation, poverty alleviation, Dalit welfare, and women’s empowerment.
Within the electoral landscape of Bhagalpur, Dalits constitute a notable 12 percent of the voting populace. Sharma’s daughters, integral to his campaign, have further added a dynamic element to his electoral endeavors. The culmination of the vote tallying for all seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls is slated for June 4.