Nitish's home turf Nalanda, a litmus test for JD(U)-RJD alliance

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Amid a perception that the NDA has lagged behind in first two phases, the BJP-led alliance is banking big on the third phase of polling on October 28 in 50 Assembly constituencies in six districts.

Nalanda (Bihar): Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's home turf Nalanda will prove to be a litmus test for the JDU-RJD alliance as the dominant castes in the region, Kurmis and Yadav have for long been rivals here. Whether they joins hands in the name of larger OBC unity or not will be at play in Nalanda, which will reflect the voting pattern for the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. BJP has demanded deployment of Special Observer in Nalanda from the date of polling to that of counting.

Amid a perception that the NDA has lagged behind in first two phases, the BJP-led alliance is banking big on the third phase of polling on October 28 in 50 Assembly constituencies in six districts. While it is confident of scoring in urban centres like Patna and BJP strongholds including Saran, Bhojpur and Buxar, the party is also leaving no stone unturned to spring a surprise in Nalanda as it tries hard to compensate for any losses in the first two phases.

Yadavs constitute 14% of the total electorates while Kurmis are 4% in the state. While Yadavs are spread across the state, Kurmis are concentrated mainly in Nalanda and some other areas. However, they constitute around 30 percent of total votes in Nalanda. The Parliamentary seat has an electorate of 19.49 lakh, including 5.5 lakh Kurmi voters. Nalanda Lok Sabha seat has sent veteran socialist leader George Fernandes to Lok Sabha thrice, in 1996, 1989 and 1999.

Nitish won from here in 2004. When Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister in 2005, the seat went to close aide Kaushalendra Kumar, who also retained in 2009. In the Narendra Modi wave in 2014 also, Kaushlendra won the seat but with a narrow margin of 9627 votes, which indicated the changing mood even in the backyard of Nitish Kumar. Satya Nand Sharma from the LJP was the runner up.

The Ram Vilas Paswan's party has fielded candidates in three of the seven assembly seats--Hilsa, Asthawan and Harnout, where Nitish Kumar's ancestral village is located. Last time JD-U in alliance with the BJP had won six of the seven seats in the district. While political compulsions have forced Nitish and Lalu to come together, both communities have a history of rivalry in Nalanda.