Jan Suraaj’S ‘Empty Howdah’

As the first phase of the Bihar election closed, it became amply clear that political consultant-turned politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) was unlikely to win more than a few stray seats. It is also doubtful if the newbie party might impact results in terms of being the difference between winners and losers on more than a handful of seats. The problem for “PK”, as the JSP leader is known, is that candidate selection has been poor and the party is unable to convey a concerted message on the change it is promising. In many Assembly constituencies, JSP does not come in for a mention except in passing, and that too as an afterthought. It is only when the JSP candidate happens to be a local notable does the nominee attract any attention.

PK’s decision to back out of a contest against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in Raghopur has proved to be a poor decision as it has allowed both the Mahagathbandhan and the National Democratic Alliance to allege that the newly minted politician does not have the stomach for a fight. The hard and long grind of an election campaign tests the credibility and durability of contestants and there is no room to hide a weak player. PK might have been better served by risking even certain defeat, but making a mark as a serious politician. The ‘empty howdah’ syndrome—where the leader’s absence from the battlefield demoralises the troops—is hurting JSP. PK’s entry into the Bihar poll scene dominated by RJD versus the BJP-Janata Dal (U) combine had created a frisson of excitement among younger voters, but it did not last long.

Room Crunch in Patna

There are no hotel rooms available in Patna and the situation is not likely to change until the results to the Assembly election are out on November 14. There are scores of visitors of all political hues flying in and out of the city, not to mention the media arriving in droves. The city does not have very many hotels, which might be a reflection on Bihar’s prohibition policy. Business visitors do not like to linger and tourism and leisure travellers consider the ban on alcohol to be onerous. All hotels require guests to sign a declaration that they are not carrying alcohol and while there is a thriving ‘underground’ supply chain, many choose caution and opt for a period of abstinence.

Election Jams

Two days ahead of polling, at 5PM sharp, the period of “silence” begins, with all campaign activity expected to come to a halt. There are instances of local officials cutting short campaign speeches. The message, however, missed the authorities at Hajipur when the campaigning for the first round of the Bihar election ended on November 3. Rallies by political parties clogged the streets leading to massive traffic jams affecting the approach and exit from Patna. The police belatedly directed traffic and while some outstation commuters fretted about catching flights, they found out that a major airline’s evening operations were badly delayed. They spent several hours cooling their heels at Patna airport.

Bad Reputation

Janata Dal (U) candidate for Mokama Anant Singh has an unsavoury reputation and his arrest in a case relating to the murder of Dularchand Yadav, a local strongman working for the JSP candidate, is no surprise. Yadav was killed in broad daylight and the murder led to fears of clashes. Singh was arrested in a bid to keep tempers in check. The Yadav community is incensed over the death and accuses the ruling BJP-JD( U) for Shielding Singh, who hails from the bhumihar community, as does his RJD rival Surajbhan Singh, whose wife is contesting the election. The clash of ‘bahubalis’ is a throwback to Bihar of the old when strongmen and criminals ruled the roost.

Roads to Success

There was a time when roads in Bihar were potholed and vehicles travelled on either side with one set of wheels on the strip of land just off the road and the other on it. This led to vehicles travelling at a 15 per cent tilt. The middle of the road was vacant as holes and near absence of a tarred surface made them unnavigable. The one achievement of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Central government is that connectivity has transformed lives. Distances have shortened and Bihar’s roads and highways are a shining success.

No Farm Insurance

Unseasonal rains due to a cyclonic circulation caused considerable damage to paddy crops in Bihar and this is a frequent lament amid the ongoing election campaign. Oddly enough, the matter hardly finds mention in political speeches. The affected farmers are poorly covered by farm insurance schemes despite the initiative being promoted by the Centre. Some farmers who have accessed the insurance say the premium is well worth it, and often enough the amount can be sanctioned by cooperatives. The lack of insurance cover is an odd blind spot in a state where awareness about official is high.

Champaran Mutton

The flood of visitors in Patna has seen local eateries doing good business. The spicy “Champaran mutton” that has become a rage in Delhi-NCR is particularly sought out. Depending on tastes, foodies seek out versions of the dish with varying levels of spice. Even at its mildest, the dish is fiery but despite dollops of oil, it is surprisingly light on the stomach. Locals and visitors tucking into a generous meal of a wellcooked dish, best partaken with rice, is a common sight around the city centre as visitors step out at night. This, too, was hardly the norm in the days commonly referred to as ‘jungle raj’.