Even as all the three main contenders were staking claim to probable victory in the by-elections in Panki and Godda Assembly constituencies going to the polls on Monday, strategists of the BJP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Congress were engaged on Sunday in their last ditch efforts to sway voters on caste and religious lines.
In Panki, the BJP, which is claiming to be nosing ahead of rivals from the Congress and the JMM, is still feeling insecure vis-à-vis minority and backward voters. “As per reports, we are getting backward votes belonging to Shashi Bhushan Mehta's caste but not the entire backward class votes. The BJP would get sufficient votes from Yadavs, Dhanuks, Teli and others which put us in a comfortable position,” said a senior party leader stationed at Panki.
To counter the lead JMM's Shashi Bhushan Mehta seems to have been getting in the area this time due to the party tag attached, the BJP has fielded son of former heavyweight and prominent backward leader Madhu Singh, lal Suraj. Being a bête noire of late Bidesh Singh, the Monday polling would also be a replay of old day folklore when lal Suraj takes on Bidesh Singh’s son Devender Singh.
“Devender Singh is getting major support in the form of Rajput votes and some of his votes which were loyal to his late father and four-time MlA of Panki. He is nowhere in contest otherwise. Our fight is with the BJP directly and there as well we are far ahead,” said JMM's general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya on the poll eve on Sunday.
Total nine candidates are in the race in Panki. Around eight CRPF battalions have been deployed for security in Panki besides district police and Home Guard jawans who would man 279 polling stations during the election.
The area is considered heavily Naxal-infested and choppers have been deployed to carry polling officers and security personnel to the booths.
On the other hand, the BJP also admits that Devender Singh would not be getting much votes of the 'forward caste' barring Rajputs but at the same time also claims that the rest of votes of the section in the form of Brahmins, Bhumihars, and host of the business class would fall into the party's kitty. "Both the JMM and the Congress are saying openly that their main fight is with the BJP. This in itself explains that we are ahead in the contest."
"If the Election Commission plays its role firmly with the help of the district administration and misuse of money and other factors are prevented , the party is going to sail through," said former president of BJP's farmers' wing Prem Singh.
Nevertheless, even insiders admit that nearly 12,000 votes of minorities in Panki would be crucial for the saffron party. The BJP is keeping its fingers crossed and hoping that the Muslim voters would be in "two minds" and their votes would be divided between the Congress and the JMM giving it a decisive lead.
In Godda, the JMM is banking clearly on its tribal support base. "We are in direct contest with the RJD there and the BJP is nowhere in the scene. We have put up a very strong candidate, Sanjeev Marik for the seat who has a proven track record of performance," said Supriyo Bhattacharya.
While the BJP is largely depending on sympathy factor which is expected to be garnered by Amit Mandal, son of the late BJP MlA Raghunandan Mandal. Amid these, UPA candidate Sanjay Prasad Yadav of the RJD would look to revive his previous vote bank. Fifteen names are in the fray at Godda.