It’s BJP vs HAM(S) in Aurangabad

AURANGABAD/PATNA: Aurangabad, popularly known as the Chittorgarh of Bihar, is set to witness a direct contest between the BJP and the HAM (Secular) in the ensuing Lok Sabha election slated for April 11. BJP’s sitting MP Sushil Kumar Singh is pitted against Upendra Prasad of the HAM (Secular).
This is for the first time since the first general election held in 1952 that the Congress has not fielded its candidate from this Rajput dominated constituency in Shahabad region.The denial of ticket to former Congress MP Nikhil Kumar has caused strong resentment among the workers of the Congress, who felt dejected due to the switching over the traditional seat to HAM (Secular).
While the BJP nominee Sushil, the son of former MP Ramnaresh Singh alias Lootan Singh, is banking on the saffron party’s vote bank – Rajput, Bhumihar, Brahmin besides its traditional voters belonging to OBC and others – HAM (S) candidate Upendra, a former MLC, is harping on Koeri-Yadav-Muslim voters. After Rajputs, Koeris and Yadavs are in sizable number in the constituency.
“In addition to Yadav-Muslim vote bank of the RJD, we will get the benefits of two other castes — Koeris and Mushahars. HAM (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi belongs to Musahar caste. Manjhi is contesting from the Gaya (SC) seat, which will impact the Aurangabad seat as well,” said a staunch supporter of Upendra, who has already launched campaign in the constituency.
While Upendra is a new face, Sushil has represented the seat thrice in the Lok Sabha in 1998, 2009 and 2014. While he won the election in 2014 as BJP candidate, he got elected to the Parliament in 2009 and 1998 on the ticket of the JD(U). “Modi wave in 2014 helped Sushil win the election as a strong contender like Nikhil Kumar was also in the fray,” said Bipin Kumar Singh, a diehard supporter of the BJP MP.
The BJP had fielded the candidate from this seat for the first time in 2014 in the last decades and won by a margin of 66,364 votes. Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency comprises Kutumba and Rafiganj assembly segments in Aurangabad district and Imamganj, Gurua and Tekari in Gaya district. The constituency has already been declared sensitive due to Maoist activities.
Three security personnel were killed and many others injured during an attack carried out by the Maoists in Aurangabad during the 2014 general election. In addition, the security personnel had detected six cane bombs weighing 30kg each from Banke Bazar under Imamganj assembly segment, which is part of the Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency, during the 2014-Lok Sabha poll.
The bombs were later defused by the personnel of the bomb disposal squad requisitioned from Gaya. The explosives were meant for carrying out a major attack on the members of patrolling teams during the election. “Aurangabad, which shares its border with Jharkhand, is among the hyper sensitive constituencies going to polls in the first phase on April 11,” said a senior official posted at the office of the state chief electoral officer in Patna.