However, a triangular contest is taking place in the three Lok Sabha constituencies of Karakat, Purnia and Kishanganj in the state. As a result, prominent leaders like Upendra Kushwaha (Rashtriya Lok Morcha-RLM), Bima Bharti (Rashtriya Janata Dal-RJD) and Dr Javed Azad (Congress) will face tough challenges in this election.
Karkat Lok Sabha constituency
In Karakat, Upendra Kushwaha was contesting as the NDA candidate and challenging the opposition Grand Alliance's Rajaram Singh (CPI-ML). However, on Wednesday, Bhojpuri 'Power Star' Pawan Singh decided to contest on BJ ticket, due to which the contest has become triangular.
Upendra Kushwaha and Rajaram Singh belong to the Kushwaha community, which has a sizeable number of voters in this area.
Pawan Singh belongs to an upper caste community, however, he has huge popularity in the rural areas of Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Kaimur etc. Upper caste voters are considered the core vote bank of BJP.Due to this, Pawan Singh's entry can create problems for Upendra Kushwaha in this election.
There are about three lakh Yadav, about two lakh Rajput, three and a half lakh Kushwaha and two lakh Gupta voters in Karakat Lok Sabha seat. Apart from this, there is also a significant number of voters from Bhumihar, Dalit, Mahadalit and Kurm communities.
Karakat Lok Sabha seat was established after the delimitation process in 2008. Earlier, it was recognized as Vikram Lok Sabha constituency. Karakat Lok Sabha seat consists of six assembly constituencies, namely Karakat Dehri, and Nokha (all located in Rohtas district) and Nabinagar, Obra, Ek Goh (all located in Aurangabad district).
In 2014, this seat was won by Upendra Kushwaha (from Rashtriya Lok Samata Party-RLSP) as an NDA candidate.However, in 2019, luck did not favor him and he lost.
Purnia Lok Sabha constituency
The battle of Purnia is most important in Bihar. Initially it seemed that the contest would be between NDA candidate Santosh Kushwaha (JD-U) and India Bloc's Bim Bharti (RJD). However, after the entry of Pappu Yadav as an independent candidate in Purnia, the contest has become triangular.
Pappu Yadav was expecting a ticket from Congress, but the seat went to RJD. After this he filed nomination as an independent candidate. Seemanchal and Kosi regions of Bihar are the stronghold of Yadavs and RJD's core vote bank (Yadav) may get cut in these elections.Kishanganj Lok Sabha constituency
Kishanganj is another seat where a triangular contest is expected. Mujahid Alam from NDA is contesting on JD-U ticket and sitting MP Dr. Javed Azad is the India Bloc candidate. He is contesting the elections on Congress ticket. The entry of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Akhtarul Iman has made the contest triangular here.
During the 2020 assembly elections, AIMIM won five seats and cut into the opposition's votes in more than 20 seats. This time also the same situation seems to be repeated.
AIMIM has a good hold in Muslim-dominated Kishanganj and other parts of Seemanchal region and its presence could create problems for RJD and Congress.
Karkat Lok Sabha constituency
In Karakat, Upendra Kushwaha was contesting as the NDA candidate and challenging the opposition Grand Alliance's Rajaram Singh (CPI-ML). However, on Wednesday, Bhojpuri 'Power Star' Pawan Singh decided to contest on BJ ticket, due to which the contest has become triangular.
Upendra Kushwaha and Rajaram Singh belong to the Kushwaha community, which has a sizeable number of voters in this area.
Pawan Singh belongs to an upper caste community, however, he has huge popularity in the rural areas of Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Kaimur etc. Upper caste voters are considered the core vote bank of BJP.Due to this, Pawan Singh's entry can create problems for Upendra Kushwaha in this election.
There are about three lakh Yadav, about two lakh Rajput, three and a half lakh Kushwaha and two lakh Gupta voters in Karakat Lok Sabha seat. Apart from this, there is also a significant number of voters from Bhumihar, Dalit, Mahadalit and Kurm communities.
Karakat Lok Sabha seat was established after the delimitation process in 2008. Earlier, it was recognized as Vikram Lok Sabha constituency. Karakat Lok Sabha seat consists of six assembly constituencies, namely Karakat Dehri, and Nokha (all located in Rohtas district) and Nabinagar, Obra, Ek Goh (all located in Aurangabad district).
In 2014, this seat was won by Upendra Kushwaha (from Rashtriya Lok Samata Party-RLSP) as an NDA candidate.However, in 2019, luck did not favor him and he lost.
Purnia Lok Sabha constituency
The battle of Purnia is most important in Bihar. Initially it seemed that the contest would be between NDA candidate Santosh Kushwaha (JD-U) and India Bloc's Bim Bharti (RJD). However, after the entry of Pappu Yadav as an independent candidate in Purnia, the contest has become triangular.
Pappu Yadav was expecting a ticket from Congress, but the seat went to RJD. After this he filed nomination as an independent candidate. Seemanchal and Kosi regions of Bihar are the stronghold of Yadavs and RJD's core vote bank (Yadav) may get cut in these elections.Kishanganj Lok Sabha constituency
Kishanganj is another seat where a triangular contest is expected. Mujahid Alam from NDA is contesting on JD-U ticket and sitting MP Dr. Javed Azad is the India Bloc candidate. He is contesting the elections on Congress ticket. The entry of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Akhtarul Iman has made the contest triangular here.
During the 2020 assembly elections, AIMIM won five seats and cut into the opposition's votes in more than 20 seats. This time also the same situation seems to be repeated.
AIMIM has a good hold in Muslim-dominated Kishanganj and other parts of Seemanchal region and its presence could create problems for RJD and Congress.
