Congress Bet On Former BJP MP In Muzaffarpur Constituency
In the upcoming fifth phase of the Bihar election on May 20, the Indian National Congress (INC) bet on former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and sitting MP Ajay Kumar Nishad in Muzaffarpur Constituency. Ajay Nishad joined the Congress on April 2, after the saffron party denied him the seat and fielded former Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) member Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, whom Nishad had defeated in 2019. He is contesting the constituency for the third consecutive time.
Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 40 constituencies in Bihar. It is a general category seat, established in 1957. The constituency has the highest number of upper-caste voters, totaling three and a half lakh. Additionally, Yadavs make up 2.25 lakh of the electorate, followed by Muslims constituting 2 lakh and Vaishyas comprising 2.25 lakh. There is also a substantial presence of voters from the Nishad and other backward classes. Muzaffarpur constituency comprises a total of 18 lakh voters spread across six assembly seats, namely Muzaffarpur, Kurhani, Bochahan, Sakra, and Gaighat.
Congress has won the seat the most times in the Lok Sabha elections held so far. After this, Janata Dal and Janata Dal United (JDU) emerged victorious. Janata Party and BJP have secured wins twice each, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has grabbed success once. Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha constituency was once a Congress stronghold. The fort was breached by George Fernandes. As per the 2020 Assembly Election results, the Muzaffarpur Parliament Constituency is represented by 2 MLAs from the RJD and 1 MLA each from the Congress, BJP, JD (U), and VIP.
In the 2019 general election, Ajay Nishad polled 6,66,878 votes with a vote share of 63% and defeated Raj Bhushan Choudhary from VIP, who got 2,56,890 votes (24.27%). Congress expects Nishad’s candidacy to help them consolidate votes from the extremely backward classes in Muzaffarpur. According to the Wire, the RJD, Congress, and three Left parties that form the INDIA alliance in the state under Tejashwi Yadav possess an upper hand, and the NDA is in no position to replicate its performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, where it won 39 out of 40 seats.
The BJP is preparing for a hat-trick in the constituency by fielding Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, a doctor by profession. Prime Minister Narendra Modi organised an election rally in Muzaffarpur. According to The Hindu, the PM lashed out at the candidate for quitting the BJP and criticised Lalu Yadav, saying that he wants to give the entire reservation for Dalit, Maha Dalit, Extremely Backward, and Tribal people to the Muslim community. The election speech has triggered opposition parties, who have filed complaints with the Election Commission, alleging that the remarks were inflammatory and violated the code of democracy.
Some other prominent candidates in the fray, including Abhay Kumar from the Samata Party, Mohammad Anzarul Hasan from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and Sabina Khatoon from the Indian National League (INL), are among the 22 candidates in the Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha constituency.
(This story is part of a Timeline. internship project.)
