Caste likely to play key role in six Araria seats

ARARIA: Six assembly constituencies in Ararira district – Araria, Sikti, Jokihat, Forbesganj, Raniganj and Narpatganj – will go to the polls in the third and final phase on November 7. Caste factor, according to poll observers, will play a major role in all the six seats as far as performance of political parties is concerned. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav have been promising formation of special development commission for Seemanchal, invoking Article 371 of the Constitution of India.Here is how the political scenario in the six seats looks like:
ARARIA: A direct contest appears imminent between JD(U)’s Shagupta Azim and Congress’s Abidur Rahman in Araria. LJP candidate and former BJP district chief Chandrasekhar Singh Babban, however, poses threat to JD(U), while AIMIM candidate Rashid Anwar is trying to garner Muslim votes, affecting the Congress candidate. Altogether 12 candidates are in the fray in the constituency.
FORBESGANJ: Although 13 candidates are in fray in Forbesganj, the main contest is between BJP’s Vidyasagar Keshari and Congress’s Jakir Anwar. Anwar was elected on a BSP ticket from here in 2000. Rahul Gandhi and PM Narendra Modi have addressed rallies in Forbesganj. Being the business hub of the district, Forbesganj seat is considered significant.
NARPATGANJ: Sitting MLA Anil Yadav of RJD is locked in a direct battle with BJP’s Jai Prakash Yadav, a retired police officer. JAP-L and AIMIM candidates, who are also in fray, may hamper the poll prospect of RJD’s Yadav as they may also get Yadav and Muslim votes.
RANIGANJ (R): Sitting JD(U) MLA Achmit Rishideo is in a direct contest with Abinash Mangalam of RJD. Former BJP MLA Parmanand Rishideo, who has been fielded by LJP this time, has posed a threat to JD(U)’s Achmit, making the fight triangular.
SIKTI: The electoral battle in Sikti is between BJP and RJD. However, RJD candidate Shatrughan Mandal is facing threat from party rebels Md Kamrujama and Abhishek Anand (son of former Sikti BJP MLA late Anandi Yadav), who were denied ticket by RJD. BJP’s former district spokesperson Raja Mishra is also in fray as independent.
JOKIHAT: It’s a fight between brothers in Jokihat. Former Union minister late Mohammad Taslimuddin’s two sons Sarfaraz Alam and Md Shahnawaz are pitted against each other. While Safaraz, a former MP, has been fielded by RJD, his younger brother Shahnawaz is fighting on an AIMIM ticket. BJP, on the other hand, has fielded Ranjit Yadav. Poll observers believe the fight between the two heavyweight brothers may divide Muslim votes in the constituency.