One of the most talked about seats -- Patna Sahib -- will witness a battle between two Kayastha leaders -- Shatrughan Sinha (Congress) and Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP).
Politics in Bihar primarily revolves around caste and the battle for 2019 promises to be an interesting one with over a dozen seats in the state set to witness a direct contest between candidates of the same castes, fielded by the two major coalitions.
The constituencies, where both BJP-led-NDA and the Opposition Grand Alliance (GA) have pitched candidates hailing from the same castes include both seats of state capital Patna -- Pataliputra and Patna Sahib, apart from Banka, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Gopalganj, Karakat, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Maharajganj, Munger, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali.
One of the most talked about seats -- Patna Sahib -- will witness a battle between two Kayastha leaders -- Shatrughan Sinha (Congress) and Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP). This, in fact, is one of the two seats, where there is a direct fight between both national parties in Bihar (the other is Sasaram).
Pataliputra, which primarily comprises outer and rural Patna, will witness a fight between two Yadavs (Ahir caste) -- Misa Bharti of RJD against her "chacha" and MP Ram Kripal Yadav. Banka and Madhepura seats will also witness a division of Yadav votes with Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) pitted against Giridhari Yadav (JD-U) from the former seat and Sharad Yadav (RJD) fighting Dinesh Chandra Yadav (JD-U) on the latter's seat.
While two Musahar community leaders are fighting it out for Gaya -- Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-S) against Vijay Manjhi (JD-U), Nishads are up against each other on Muzaffarpur seat where Ajay Nishad (BJP) is defending seat from Rajbhushan Nishad (VIP).
Rajputs are pitted against each other on Maharajganj and Vaishali seats while Munger seat will see a fight between Bhumihars and Kishanganj is set to witness a contest between two minority candidates.
Who Stands To Benefit In Such Fights?
It has to be seen whether direct caste-contests will divide voters or if their allegiance is pre-determined. Parties claim the castes are loyal to the main party leaders and their ideologies rather than individual candidates. “Each and every Yadav has put his force behind Lalu ji. No question of other Yadav candidates getting our votes,” an RJD leader said.
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