Voters in the high-profile constituency, represented thrice by former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, are busy discussing a logical reasoning question to predict the poll outcome even as the campaigning for the April 17 elections ends tomorrow.
“It could either be ABC or BCA or CAB,” said a confused voter. Actually A, B and C are the abbreviated forms of AJSU Party, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Congress which is very popular in Hazaribagh parliamentary constituency these days. If you want to know the scenario of the political battlefield of Hazaribagh constituency, don’t be surprised if the answer comes in short forms.
Here even the neutral voters are of the opinion that this time a tough triangular contest is going to take place among the AJSU, BJP and Congress candidates and if a voter is inclined to any of these parties, he is not hesitating even in predicting the result by saying it will be ABC or BCA or CAB this time. Though there are heavyweights like two-time MP CPI’s Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Mehta, JVM’s AK Mishra also known as ‘Success Guru’, AAP’s Mithilesh Kumar Dangi and others are also in the fray, one can conclude easily by general mood of the people that they are actually not in the contest.
The triangular contest clearly speaks that a new face is going to represent Hazaribagh this time in Parliament. From AJSU’s side Ex-MlA of Barkagaon loknath Mahto is in the field; Jayant Sinha, son of Yashwant Sinha (sitting MP) is BJP’s candidate while Hazaribagh Sadar MlA Saurav Narayan Singh is trying hard to get promoted from assembly to parliament on Congress’s ticket.
Mahto, who had represented Barkagaon assembly seat thrice, is contesting parliamentary election for the first time. He is banking on the caste factor and youth force which is said to be with the AJSU Party. Sympathy votes of late Tileshwar Sahu may also strengthen his claim on the seat. His opponents however, are targeting him on his failures as an MlA, his party’s long participation in Jharkhand government and the image of his campaign managers in the society.
Jayant, on the other hand, is trying to sail across on NaMo wave, solid vote bank of BJP in the constituency and the developmental work done by his father for the people of Hazaribagh. BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will also be coming to Hazaribagh to seek votes for Sinha junior. BJP workers are of the belief that NaMo punch will finally knock down Sinha’s opponents. Opponents, on the other hand, are talking about his father’s failure and his unavailability to the common man of the constituency.
Saurav’s strength however, is deep rooted legacy of his royal ancestors, minority votes and the support of workers of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Rashtriya Janata Dal. No any major achievement as an MlA for two consecutive terms, internal conflict in local Congress unit, anti-incumbency factor and also face saving support from the alliance parties like JMM and RJD could be the major hurdle for Saurabh. Though the fate of all the 20 candidates will be decided on April 17, it will become clear whether A, B or C goes to Parliament or any surprise element comes out of the EVMs.