Bihar Polls: Caste mathematics at work for Grand Alliance in third and fourth phase voting

PATNA: With the NDA perceived to do well in the third and fourth phases of elections, the Grand Alliance has left no stone unturned to give it a good fight. It has formed different teams to visit various assembly constituencies where the alliance is weak.

In the third phase covering 50 assembly seats in Saran, Vaishali, Nalanda, Patna, Bhojpur and Buxar districts, BJP’s hopes are based on the concentration of upper castes and urban voters in most of the region. However, Nalanda, chief minister Nitish Kumar’s home district, and Saran, stronghold of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, too will vote in the third phase. Nalanda has seven assembly constituencies and Saran has 10.

Sources in the Grand Alliance said there is special focus on the votes of Extremely Backward Castes in these two phases. "We are almost sure to bag the votes of MYK (Muslim, Yadav, and Kurmi). We have already dispatched our teams to collect feedback from different constituencies to know about inclination of EBC voters," a source in the JD(U) camp said.

According to sources, the Grand Alliance has formed teams of different castes. "Prashant Kishore’s team provides feedback about the weak areas of different constituencies of this phase. We sent our team accordingly to pacify voters who are angry with us," another source said.

"Former MLC Ganesh Bharti, who is JD(U)’s face of Nonia voters, is on job in north Bihar. Accompanied by other leaders of his caste, he visited several villages that have a good population of Nonia voters. We wanted to check if they are influenced by our rivals after the end of the first two phases of elections," a source said.

Similarly, a team-headed by Chandeshwar Chandravanshi, associated with EBC cell of JD(U), is tasked to keep a close eye on Kahar votes, which are in good number in Patna and its Mokama parts.

For Mahadalits allegedly unhappy with Nitish Kumar in the wake of Jitan Ram Manjhi’s exit from CM office, the Grand Alliance has asked the Speaker of the state assembly Udai Narayan Choudhari to visit constituencies which have Mahadalit population. "He tries to pacify voters of this particular group. He silently works on this front," the source added.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti is also tasked to visit such areas which have adverse reports about Yadav votes. "If there was a report about any grievance against Grand Alliance among Yadav voters in particular area, Misa is sent there to talk to voters," the source said.

JD(U) state president Basistha Narayan Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar are camping in Buxar. "Basistha Narayan Singh has been in Buxar for at least three days to correct things of JD(U) nominee Dadan Yadav in Dumraon assembly seat. Srikant Yadav’s presence in the fray as an independent has enhanced the possibility of split in Yadav votes," the source said.