Electioneering in Bihar: For RJD, LJP it's all about family

In the caste ridden politics of Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad’s two sons and daughter, and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan’s son, are star campaigners for their party.

Besides the children, Lalu’s wife and Paswan’s brothers also figured in the list of campaigners for the Lok Sabha polls.

Lalu’s RJD has submitted a list of its campaigners to the Election Commission of India.

RJD’s state spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said Lalu’s sons Tej Pratap Yadav and younger Tejasvi Yadav and his elder daughter Misa Bharti are named as star campaigner of the party.

“Both Tej Pratap and Tejasvi will campaign along with Laluji to woo voters,” he said.

Tejasvi, 24, is more articulate and vocal than his elder brother Tej Pratap, 27. Lalu has declared Tejasvi as his political heir.

Bhola Yadav, a close aide of Lalu, said that party has requisitioned a helicopter for Tejasvi to enable him to undertake election campaigns across Bihar.

RJD leaders like Baban Yadav said that Tejasvi is the youth face of the party and his election campaign will help the party attract youngsters.

Misa Bharti, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Patliputra seat in Patna as the RJD candidate, will campaign for the party after her elections in the second week of April. “At present she is busy in her own constituency but will also campaign for other party candidates,” the RJD leader said.

Misa, a doctor by profession, is considered shrewd like her father.

Lalu’s wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from the Saran seat, will also campaign for other candidates of the party.

Paswan’s son Chirag Paswan, an actor turned politician, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Jamui seat, is the star campaigner of the party after his father.

“Chirag is very popular among youths and his charming personality is attracting many. It will prove a big plus point for the party in the polls,” Lalan Kumar, an LJP leader said.

Paswan’s two brothers, Ramchander Paswan and Pasupati Kumar Paras, are also star campaigners of the party.

Ram Chander is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Samastipur seat while Paras is the state president of the party.

The RJD is contesting 27 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and its ally Congress is contesting from 12 seats, and the NCP is contesting from 1.

The LJP is contesting from 7 seats and its ally Bharatiya Janata Party from 30 seats, and another ally the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party is contesting from 3 seats.

Image: Former Bihar chief minister and Lalu Prasad Yadav's wife Rabri Devi