RJD’s Tanveer Hassan makes it a triangular fight in Begusarai

PATNA: Begusarai hogged the limelight after CPI fielded former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar against firebrand BJP neta Giriraj Singh from this Lok Sabha seat. It was widely perceived to be a direct fight between the two before RJD named Tanveer Hassan as its candidate and made it a triangular contest in Begusarai, which was once known as the ‘Leningrad of Bihar’.
Tanveer, who had lost to Bhola Singh of BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha election, may turn up a strong contender again due to the likely split of upper caste Bhumihar votes between Kanhaiya and Giriraj and the sizeable number of Muslim-Yadav (M-Y) votes in the constituency.
The RJD state vice-president had polled 3,69,892 votes and lost to Bhola by a margin of 58,335 votes despite the NaMo wave. Local political observers believe Tanveer lost in 2014 because of Rajendra Prasad Singh of CPI(M), who had secured 1,92,639 votes.
“Tanveer ji is in a strong position in Begusarai this election as he has strong hold over Muslim and Yadav electors there. Besides, he will also get support from other backward castes, including Mallah and Kushwahas because of our alliance with Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP,” RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.
Political observers in Begusarai view Tanveer as a strong contender this time as well. “Tanveer is a local man and has always remained connected with Begusarai. Though a section of Muslim electors is seen in the rallies and roadshows of Kanhaiya, I believe their votes would be polarized in favour of the RJD candidate,” said JP Sharma, professor in the department of political science at GD College, Begusarai.
Bhumihars dominate Begusarai constituency with roughly 19% voters, followed by 15% Muslims, 12% Yadavs, 7% Kurmis and 8% scheduled castes. It is perhaps due to the dominance of Bhumihar electors that nine out of 10 MPs from Begusarai were from that caste. Muslims, which form the second biggest chunk of electors in Begusarai, had their representation in 2009 when Monazir Hassan won the Lok Sabha election on JD(U) ticket.
Political observers claimed that both Mahagathbandhan and NDA have Kanhaiya as a common foe in the poll battle. Though initially, RJD was expected to support Kanhaiya’s candidature, things turned out otherwise. RJD insiders said both RJD president Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav were not in favour of Kanhaiya and fielded Tanveer to ensure that Muslims do not vote for the CPI candidate.
Three-term MLC Tanveer, who filed his nomination papers on Monday, had started his political career in 1980 when he was elected as a senator of LN Mithila University. Later, he was made the state president of Lok Dal of former Bihar CM late Karpoori Thakur in 1982 and became the executive president of Bihar unit of Janata Dal in 1984. He was also a part of Indian delegation to World Festival of Youth and Students at Moscow in 1985. He was made the state president of Janata Dal led by former PM VP Singh in 1991.