It is not often that a three-time former Chief Minister of Bihar is forced to hold no fewer than five roadshows to win the trust of the people of her constituency, one which has long been considered inviolate owing to the position of the holder.
For leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi, with a decade-and-a-half of neglect behind her, the sun seems to be setting on her Yadav-dominated constituency of Raghopur — a strip of ‘diara' land in Vaishali district, scenically carved out with the Ganga on four sides.
The Yadav and Rajput populace, which earlier dubbed her the “Queen of Raghopur,” now feels that she visits them only during elections.
In the Yadav village of Rustampur, people complain that she has not visited the constituency even once during the last five years, leaving the region's affairs in the charge of a former Rashtriya Janata Dal legislator, Bhola Rai.
Asked about the work she has done in her constituency, the villagers dryly say Mr. Bhola Rai's palatial home is just about all progress that has taken place.
Historically, the Yadavs and the Rajputs in the area have been at loggerheads since 1952, with the Rajput population of around 60,000 divided over the election of Ms. Rabri Devi as its legislator.
Over time, with the improved law and order situation under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar being felt in this belt, a large number of Yadav and Rajput voters are expected to shift their loyalties to the Janata Dal (United) in this Assembly election.
In Rustampur, the buzz is that at least 25% of the Yadav voters will tilt towards Mr. Kumar.
Residents of the Rajput village of Jurawanpur are happy over the end of mayhem and disorder that hung over Raghopur, thanks to Mr. Kumar's development proposition.
Moreover, the clincher in the argument against Ms. Rabri Devi's governance is the credible and popular image of her JD (U) rival, Satish Kumar, who almost upset the RJD apple-cart in the October 2005 elections, having lost to her by fewer than 5,000 votes.
Resentment among both Yadavs and Rajputs against Ms. Rabri Devi is high as was evidenced by the decision taken at a September Mahapanchayat that the voters would be better off with a local legislator who would take note of their demands.
But, Ms. Rabri Devi loyalists hold Mr. Bhola Rai responsible for sullying her image, while firmly believing she should be given yet another chance to represent the constituency.
In Sonepur in Saran district, the second constituency where she is contesting, also Ms. Rabri Devi is skating on thin ice as the public opinion seems to be divided, say political observers. Politically, RJD chief Lalu Prasad's recent inclusion of dissident Rajput JD (U) leader Prabhunath Singh has failed to impress the community in either of the two constituencies.
With the third phase of the Assembly elections being held on Thursday, Ms. Rabri Devi and Mr. Prasad, along with their ally, Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, have held no fewer than seven public meetings to woo the voters with future promises.
By all accounts, the battle for Raghopur promises to be a fierce showdown.
