High-profile battle on cards in Jamui

PATNA: Battle lines have been drawn for Jamui assembly constituency, a testing ground for three powerful political families. The prestige of these families is at stake in Jamui where Rajputs and Yadavs are almost equal in number. The constituency has 2.9 lakh voters and it will go to the polls in the first phase on October 28.
The NDA has pitted ace shooter and former Union minister late Digvijay Singh’s daughter Shreyashi Singh against the RJD’s strongman and sitting MLA Vijay Prakash.While Shreyashi of BJP is a Rajput, her principal opponent is a Yadav. With the entry of BJP rebel candidate Ajay Pratap Singh as RLSP candidate, Jamui constituency is set for a triangular fight.
Sitting MLA Vijay, younger brother of former Union minister and senior RJD leader Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav, had won the seat twice – in 2005 and 2015. He also served as minister of labour resources department from 2015 to 2017. Retaining the seat would be tough for Vijay as he is facing Shreyashi, who is clear about her approach.
The 29-year-old shooter wants to become the face of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Amtanirbhar (self-reliant)’ vision. She intends to start this initiative from Jamui. Shreyashi also aims to promote sports and art and culture activities in the constituency to generate employment for youngsters. Besides being a young and a popular sports figure, she is one among the two women candidates on the seat, the other being Sujata Singh, an independent.
Ajay Pratap Singh, elder son of former minister for food and consumer protection Narendra Singh, was expelled from BJP after he entered the poll fray against Shreyashi. Ajay had represented Jamui seat in 2010 from JD(U) ticket, while his father had represented the same seat in 2000.
This time, Rajput votes could see a division with Ajay and Shreyashi in the fray. However, the EBCs, also called ‘panch-paniyas’ in local parlance, and the Mahadalits are staunch supporters of the NDA.
This seat has also become a high-profile as it falls under Jamui Lok Sabha constituency of LJP president Chirag Paswan, who has disassociated himself from the NDA in Bihar. However, LJP has not fielded its candidate in Jamui.