Ara PC witnessing direct fight between BJP and CPI(ML) nominees

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara :  Ara parliamentary constituency (PC) comprising 7 Assembly segment is witnessing a direct contest between siting MP Raj Kumar Singh and Mahagathbandhan ( Gfrand Alliance)  supported CPI(ML) candidate Raju Yadav. The constituency will go to polls on May 19, 2019

The 7 Assembly segments under Ara PC are : Sandesh, Shahpur, Barhara, Ara, Jagdishpur, Agia0, and Tarari, dominated by mostly by Rajputs, Yadavas, Bhumihars, Brahmins, Kushwahas and others. These castes particularly the upper castes play a vital role in deciding the fate of the candidates in elections. The first five assembly constituencies are represented by the RJD, e Agiao by the JD(U), and Tarari by the CP(-ML). Sitting BJP MP and Union Minister Raj Kumar Singh, a former Union Home Secretary,  is contesting election on the BJP ticket for the second consecutive time. Raj Kumar Singh is a native of Supaul District in North Bihar.

Ara was represented by the congress from 1952 to 1977 and again from 1984 to 1989 by the former External Affairs Minister and also Lok Sabha speaker Baliram Bhagat.

Altogether 11 candidates are in fray in Ara PC in 2019 General Elections.r. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, RJD had fielded the JD(U) deserter Sri Bhagwan Singh, son-in-law of  founder of the naxalism in the erstwhile Shahabad district, Jagdish Master,from Ara.  But Sri Bhagwan Singh again changed his allegiance and joined BJP and canvassed for Raj Kumar Singh.

Though Raju Yadav had finished hird position in the 2014 Lok Sabha election polling 98,000 votes, this time he enjoys the support of Mahagathbandhan and giving tough fight tom the sitting MP Raj Kumar Singh. Rameshwar Prasad of the CPI (ML) had stunned one and all when by defeating sitting MP Baliram Bhagast in 1989. Raj Kumar Singh, who claims to have done a lot of development works in the areas, is confident that other backward class, extremely backward class, muslims and mahadalits will back him and added that he will win the election with a good margin. CPI(ML) Raju Yadav also makes the same claim.  BJP nominee R K Singh’s position improved considerably following the visit of party President Amit Shah, internal feud in the party is a matter of concern for him. The RJD is also facing the same bug.

People of the Ara parliamentary constituency are still crying for drinking water, road, and irrigation facility even after 72 years of independence, said an ex-armyman Rana Pratap Singh of Karisath village and added that the naxal invested areas like Tarari, Sandesh, Sahar, Chandi, Khaira, Ekwari, some villages under Gadhani block, and residents of Chandawa locality in Ara lack development and farmers of Bhojpur  district are denied irrigation facilities and canals are in dilapidated condition.

Meanwhile, residents of Mishravalia, Gobindpur, Marchaiya, Saiya, Ramkarhi, Pachkaudi Dera, Dalan Chhapoara, Lakshu Tola under Shahpur block, Jagdishpur and Hematpur, West Gundi, Jhonkhipur under in Barhara block, Chitrasenpur, Shubhakaranganj under Ara block, Pitaro under Piro block, Balihari under Charpokhari block have decided to boycott the poll as their villages are still miles away from the development.