Development takes back seat in Araria

Jitendra K Shrivastava

Tribune News Service

Araria (Bihar), April 21

Keeping developmental and local issues at bay, voters appear to cast their votes on caste and communal lines in Araria Lok Sabha constituency, a lone constituency of Seemanchal region where the BJP has fielded Pradip Kumar Singh against RJD’s Sharfraz Alam leaving other three seats for its ally JD-U.

This constituency has apparently witnessed growth in village road connectivity, electricity reach, potable water supply and development of school infrastructure during the regime of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. The locals also tacitly acknowledge the development took place during Nitish regime calling him as ‘Vikaspurush’. 

Kursail, a resident of Araria said: “Nitish has certainly given infrastructural boost, but Lalu Prasad (RJD chief) had given ‘voice in our mouth’. Lalu’s voice is much heavier than Nitish’s development. So caste and religion will always dominate in the politics of Araria”.

“Muslims and Yadavs (42% of total population of constituency) expect favours from leaders at administrative level. So they aggressively cast their votes either on communal or caste lines”, said social activist Ranjani Sinha.