It's Nitish Kumar's number 2 versus BJP's youth face in Sarairanjan constituency

By Sanjay Singh

PATNA: In Sarairanjan seat of Samastipur district, CM Nitish Kumar’s close aide Vijay Kumar Choudhary is facing a tough battle against BJP candidate Ranjit Nirguni. Choudhary, leader of JD(U) legislature party and minister for water resources, is considered the No. 2 in the government.

Besides his own efforts to avoid any possibility of division in upper caste votes, Choudhary is also banking on RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s potential to get Yadav votes transferred in his favour to sail through. Choudhary had interestingly defeated the RJD candidate Ramshraya Sahni in 2010 assembly polls.

With the BJP fielding 38-year-old Ranjit Nirguni, who is also from the Bhumihar community like Choudhary, the political equations for JD (U) have undergone a complete change in Sarairanjan. Choudhary’s biggest source of trouble is BJP’s local MP Nityanand Rai who enjoys good support among Yadavs in Sarairanjan, which is part of Rai’s parliamentary seat Ujiarpur.

"Choudhary is spending sleepless nights to correct his equations in the new political situation. His supporters have suggested that he organise election meetings of RJD chief for wooing the Yadavs," said a person familiar with the matter.

Yadavs have a considerable presence in this constituency. Choudhary has done his ground work well by developing good relations with RJD leader Sahni whom he had defeated in the 2010 assembly elections.

BJP, on the other hand, will test its popularity among upper caste voters in this constituency, which also has a fair number of Bhumihar and Brahmin voters.