Banka poised for a triangular contest

PATNA: The Banka parliamentary constituency is poised for a triangular contest in the second phase of elections in Bihar on April 18. It would have been a direct fight between sitting MP Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav of RJD and Giridhari Yadav of JD(U), had independent candidate and former Banka MP Putul Kumari not joined the fray.
Putul, who lost the 2014 general election from Banka on BJP ticket to RJD’s Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav despite the ‘Modi wave’, is likely to make the contest tough due to the legacy of her husband Digvijay Singh, who was a former Union minister and had represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha in 1998, 1999 and 2009.She had won the seat in the 2010 byelection after her husband’s demise.
Giridhari had won the seat twice in 1996 and 2004 on RJD ticket and Jay Prakash in 2014, also on the RJD ticket.
Putul, a Rajput, has been trying to win the electoral battle for “dignity”. Putul’s daughter and shooter Shreyasi Singh, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist in 2018, has also been campaigning for her mother.
Sources said JD(U) initially wanted to give the ticket to Shreyasi, but she refused. Putul was in BJP, which ceded the seat to JD(U) and later expelled her from the party for six years for not withdrawing her candidature.
For social configuration, the constituency has strong presence of upper castes (Rajputs, Brahmins, Bhumihars, Kayasthas) and equally overwhelming number of Yadavs, Kushwahas and trader classes, besides extremely backward castes, Dalits and tribal groups, as well as Muslims. Since the mid-1980s, parts of it have remained hit by Maoist activities.
Banka is also considered to be a bastion of social leaders. Locals recall veteran leaders such as former Bihar CM Chandrashekhar Singh, his wife Manorama Singh, socialist leader Madhu Limaye, George Fernandes and B S Sharma (Bharatiya Jansangh) had earlier tried their luck from this seat.
While Putul is mainly eyeing upper caste votes, Jay Prakash is banking on MY (Muslim-Yadav) combination besides EBCs and Mahadalits. “The division in Yadav votes will benefit Putul,” said a close confidante of former MP.
Amarendra, a retired teacher from CM College, Baunsi, said, “Whosoever gets elected should see that Banka remains socially peaceful. He/she should also use MPLAD fund to provide facilities to tourist spots like Mandar hills and a few waterfalls available in the district.”
Rajiv Shankar from Jagdishpur said political leaders should look after the concerns of youth. “Lot many youths from the district have started migrating to other parts of the country in search of job. Employment opportunity should be available locally,” said Shankar.
Banka Lok Sabah seat covers six assembly segments --- Sultanganj, Amarpur, Deoraiya, Banka, Katoria and Belhar. In 2014 general election Jay Prakash (RJD) had won by a margin of just 10,000 votes. The voter turnout was 84.24% across 1580 polling booths. RJD nominee had secured 2,85,150 votes while BJP candidate got 2,75,006 votes.