Political pursuits end family ties in Bhojpur as relatives set to face-off in upcoming polls

Sandesh | Shahpur (Bhojpur): The main candidates in Sandesh and Shahpur are fighting their own family members in the upcoming election, leading many voters to comment that this shows the netas (leaders) think only of their political interest.
In Sandesh, the JDU nominee Bijendra Yadav is locked in a close battle with his younger brother Arun Yadav’s wife Kiran Devi, while in Shahpur, sisters-in-law Munni Devi (BJP candidate) and Shobha Devi (independent) are facing each other for political supremacy.



Trouble began in the Yadav family of Sandesh in the 2010 assembly polls when Arun contested as an independent candidate against his elder brother Bijendra Yadav. Bijendra, who was then in the RJD, had represented the Sandesh seat for ten years since 2000.

In the 2010 election, Arun bagged more votes than his elder brother but both the Yadav brothers were defeated by the BJP candidate Sanjay Singh.

In 2015 assembly polls, RJD chief Lalu Prasad called the members of Yadav family and successfully managed to bring both the brothers under the banner of RJD. The unity in the Yadav family resulted in the victory of Arun Yadav.

“Laluji had called us at his residence in Patna. He convinced Bijendra to support his younger brother Arun, whom the RJD had given its ticket,” Bhuvaneshwar Yadav, father of Bijendra and Arun, told ET at the election office of RJD nominee Arun Yadav.

The truce that the RJD chief managed between the two Yadav brothers of Sandesh in 2015 by offering one MLC or party post and the other a ticket for MLA did not last. Holding a grudge after being denied a chance to become an MLC in the past five years, Bijendra Yadav joined the JD (U) and is now its candidate from Sandesh.

“Bijendra Yadav is a popular face of the area. He has been given a ticket by the JDU and he is now fighting his political battle in Sandesh, He is getting a good response from the voters,” said former MLC Lal Das Rai, who recently left the RJD to join the JD (U).

What is troubling Bijendra Yadav is the presence of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) nominee Shweta Singh, the wife of Sanjay Singh, a local Thakur face. Thakurs are considered to be traditional supporters of the NDA in this region.