RJD hopes Khesari's tunes crack Chapra's caste code

Pop sensation Khesari Lal Yadav takes to the streets of Chapra in a vibrant campaign for the Bihar assembly elections, contesting against BJP's formidable Chhoti Kumari and an independent candidate. With citizens voicing concerns over economic growth, employment opportunities, and the liquor prohibition laws, the stakes are high.

Chapra: As Bhojpuri singer Shatrughan Yadav, better known as Khesari Lal Yadav, passes through narrow lanes of Chapra town seeking votes ahead of the November 6 election in the first phase of Bihar assembly polls, locals engaged in Chhath preparations stop and take notice.

Yadav, fielded by the RJD from the seat which was won by the BJP the last two times, is relying on his star appeal to draw votes from beyond the Muslim-Yadav support base of his party. The singer faces Chhoti Kumari of the BJP, which has changed its candidate here this time. Kumari belongs to a Baniya sub-caste which is counted among other backward classes in the state.

Sneha Shrivastava, who is out shopping accompanied by her college-going daughter Shreya, keeps an eye on Yadav's entourage, mostly comprising boisterous youths, while answering questions regarding the election. Development and better jobs for her children are the key issues, says Shrivastava, who is in her 50s, adding that law and order is also an important concern.

Selling bananas to Shrivastava, Sanjay Chaurasia, says not much work has been done in the past few years, and complains about the liquor ban. "Illicit liquor is being sold freely, and my brother's young son died after consuming it. Something needs to be done," he says. Chaurasia says his wife did not receive ₹10,000-under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana to promote self-employment-but his sister did. Standing next to him, Rameshwar Prasad, Badhai (carpenter) by caste, selling bamboo trays, used for Chhath puja, says jobs for youngsters is the main issue. Both Chaurasia and Prasad say that youngsters in the constituency are attracted to Yadav's candidature.

Yadav's celebrity appeal, however, is not the only challenge the BJP faces here. One of its own leaders, Rakhi Gupta, an erstwhile local mayor, is contesting as a rebel. Gupta holds sway in Chapra town, and her candidature is causing unease in the BJP camp over some division of Baniyas - the largest caste grouping with more than 90,000 votes.

The other major communities are Rajputs (50,000 voters), Yadavs (45,000) Muslims (39,000) and 22,000 others including Scheduled Castes.

From 1965 till 2014, Chapra assembly seat had a unique distinction of electing either a Rajput or a Yadav from various parties, before CN Gupta won in 2015, and then again in 2020.
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Source: EconomicTimes
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