The seat has been dominated by the Yadav community, whose candidates have consistently won Lok Sabha elections from Madhepura since 1967…reports Asian Lite News
Bihar’s Madhepura Lok Sabha seat is set to see an interesting contest between incumbent JD-U MP Dinesh Chandra Yadav and RJD’s Kumar Chandradeep Yadav as both belong to the community that has a stronghold in the constituency.
Madhepura has sent prominent leaders such as former Union Minister Sharad Yadav, ex-Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad and Pappu Yadav to the Lok Sabha. From this seat, Sharad Yadav had won four Lok Sabha elections while RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Pappu Yadav won two elections each.
The seat has been dominated by the Yadav community, whose candidates have consistently won Lok Sabha elections from Madhepura since 1967, and there is a popular local adage, “Rome Pope ka, Madhepura Gope (Yadavs) ka”.
Madhepura was carved out of the Bhagalpur Lok Sabha constituency in 1967and B.P. Mandal of the Samyukta Socialist Party became the first MP to represent this seat. Mandal in 1968 (by-poll) contested as an Independent candidate from Madhepura and again emerged victorious. He also won the Madhepura seat on Janata Party ticket in 1977. Mandal, who also chaired the Second Backward Class Commission — popularly known as the Mandal Commission, belonged to a rich Yadav family.
Sharad Yadav represented the seat four times in 1991, 1996, 1999 and 2009. However, he lost twice to Lalu Prasad in 1998 and 2004.
As Lalu Prasad also won the election from the Saran Lok Sabha seat in 2004, he gave up Madhepura. Subsequently, Pappu Yadav, who contested on the RJD ticket, won the by-poll in 2004.
In 2014, Pappu Yadav, who was acquitted in the Ajit Sarkar murder case, contested the Lok Sabha election and won from Madhepura on the ticket of RJD. In 2019, JD-U’s Dinesh Chandra Yadav won from the seat, defeating Sharad Yadav.
Madhepura Lok Sabha constituency comprises six Assembly segments — Madhepura, Alamnagar and Bihariganj of Madhepura district and Saharsa, Sonversa and Mahishi of Saharsa district. As per estimates, Madhepura has 6 lakh Yadav voters, followed by 3.5 lakh Muslim, 3 lakh Upper caste, 1.5 lakh Nishad, and 7 lakh Economically Backward Classes (EBC) voters. The voting in Madhepura is scheduled in the third phase on May 7.
Akhilesh confident of win
Meanwhile, Akhilesh said their agitation against Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) would continue. He called resistance against EVMs “a long fight”.
“Germany is an example of an economically and socially stronger country than India, where the use of EVMs is considered unconstitutional… We have decided that we will defeat them using EVMs and then we’ll remove EVMs,” added the SP Chief.
He highlighted that America, Japan, and many European countries don’t consider EVM but consider only ballots.
Yadav stated, “The people of Manipuri have made up their minds to make us win with the great majority…None of their policies have reached the people. The people are ready to give them a response…”
Meanwhile, praising the nomination of his ally partner in the INDIA bloc, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday that it is not about family this time, the whole family is on the field to protect the Constitution.
After days of speculation, Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Raebareli, a stronghold of the Gandhi family, which was represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi in the outgoing Lok Sabha. There was anticipation earlier that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from either Amethi or Raebareli, two seats in Uttar Pradesh which are prestige battles for the party.
Speaking on PM Modi’s statement on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Raebareli, Yadav stated, “There are many examples of leaders contesting from two Lok Sabha constituencies. We have also contested from two Lok Sabha constituencies, Netaji has also contested from two Lok Sabha constituencies, Prime Minister has also contested from two Lok Sabha constituencies. Rahul Gandhi will win in Wayanad and Raebareli with record votes.” (ANI)
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