Lok Sabha Election 2019: Direct contest between RJD, JD-U in Bhagalpur

Bihar's Bhagalpur Lok Sabha constituency had witnessed a photo-finish when RJD's Shailesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal had defeated BJP's two-time MP Shahnawaz Hussain by over 9,000 votes, despite the Modi wave in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll.

Cut to 2019, Hussain is out from the scene with the seat landing in ally JD(U)'s kitty as per the seat-sharing arrangement of the NDA, and the onus is on Bulo Mandal to save his seat by repeating his feat. He will be up against another from his own "Gangota" caste - Ajay Mandal of the JD(U), the MLA from Nathnagar in Bhagalpur. While Bulo had polled 3.67 lakh votes in 2014 to wrest the seat from Hussain, the combined votes of BJP and JD(U) total to around 4.90 lakh, making NDA's claims stronger this time.

"However, in 2014, the JD(U) had pitched a Muslim candidate here, as had the BJP. If the minority votes will swing towards the NDA this time, it cannot be said," a Bhagalpur-based journalist said and added, "Cutting Hussain's ticket led to factionism within the NDA. He had been preparing to contest for the fourth time. It was only after PM Narendra Modi's April 11 rally that the rank and file were mobilised and started campaigning together. But much precious time was already lost by then."

While this is the first time both national parties, the BJP and Congress are in a supporting role in Bhagalpur, this election will witness a direct contest between two regional arch-rivals - the RJD and JD-U. Bhagalpur is known as the "silk city" of Bihar for the silk fabrics produced here, but the weavers are a struggling lot now.