This story is from April 22, 2019

Cong’s Ranjeet faces stiff JD(U) challenge in Supaul

Cong’s Ranjeet faces stiff JD(U) challenge in Supaul
PATNA: Sitting Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan is locked in a direct fight with Dileshwar Kamait of the JD(U) in Supaul Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to the polls in the third phase on April 23. Ranjeet is the wife of Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who is also seeking re-election from Madhepura as an independent.
Ranjeet was elected to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket despite Narendra Modi wave in 2014.
However, she is facing opposition within the Grand Alliance this time. RJD MLA from Pipra Yaduwansh Prasad Yadav recently came out in the open to express his displeasure against her on the ground that her husband Pappu Yadav was contesting against the RJD nominee from Madhepura Lok Sabha seat Sharad Yadav.
The internal bickering within the Grand Alliance partners could be gauged from the fact that no any senior leader of the RJD was present at the time of filing of her nomination papers. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Madan Mohan Jha, however, said everything would be set on right track. “Ranjeet Ranjan has already talked to the local leaders and they will work together in favour of the official nominee of the Grand Alliance,” he said.
Lack of educational institutions, unemployment, migration of local youths to other states in search of job and substantial decline in jute cultivation in the region are the main issues that will dominate the electoral scene this time. “I was rendered jobless for almost six months due to demonetisation. As a result, I returned to my native village under Triveniganj assembly segment. Since then I am at my village,” said Santosh Prasad Singh (23).
Other youths like Nirmal Kumar Singh (24), Avinash Kumar Yadav (28) and Prashant Kumar (30) echoed similar views. Kameshwar Singh (55), a jute grower, said, “Production of jute has declined and the cultivators are left in the lurch. Nobody is ready to listen to our grievances.” Supaul is one of the districts in Kosi region where jute cultivation is main source of income of farmers. The Seemanchal farmers also grow jute.

“Bihar is ranked second after West Bengal as far as jute production is concerned. Purnia, Katihar and Supaul are the districts where farmers grow jute on a vast land. In recent months, several jute collection centres located at Singheshwar, Supaul Sadar, Jadia, Pratapganj and Simrahi, which were opened by the Jute Corporation of India, have closed,” said D P Yadav (65), a retired teacher of B N Mandal University, Madhepura.
Supaul Lok Sabha constituency came into existence following delimitation of constituencies in 2008. In 2009, Kumar Vishwa Mohan of the JD(U) defeated Ranjeet Ranjan. In 2014, Ranjeet won the seat by defeating JD(U)’s Dileshwar Kamaith by a margin of over 59,000 votes. Kameshwar Choupal of the BJP stood third.
The JD(U) had contested the 2014 general election on its own. This time, JD(U) is part of the BJP-led NDA. In 2014, while Ranjeet had secured 3,32,927 votes, Kamaith had polled 2,72,329 votes and Choupal 2,49,693 votes.
According to a rough caste estimate, Yadavs constitute (26%) of the total electorate in Supaul followed by Muslims (16%), Brahmins (4.10%), Rajputs (2.32%), OBCs and EBCs (34%), Mahadalit (6.07%) and Dalit (4.09 %).
Deputy election officer Lal Bahadur Rai said altogether 20 contestants, including eight independents, are in the fray. Apart from Ranjeet, another woman, Kiran Devi, is trying her luck on the ticket of Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party.
Ranjeet had to face the ire of the electorate as their demand for setting up of a Kendriya Vidyalaya and an educational institute to impart education up to PG level remained unfulfilled. With barely a week left for the voting, all the contestants are making last minute efforts to woo the electorate.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA