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The Guinness Record And Other Stories

Hajipur: Ram Vilas Paswan

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The Guinness Record And Other Stories
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In terms of visible development, Paswan has certainly brought in big projects to Hajipur. His efforts have made Hajipur the zonal railway headquarters so there’s always some construction and expansion work linked to the railways happening here. Besides Paswan is given credit for establishing the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education here and opening a processing plant of a steel factory in Manhar. He has also announced the construction of an international heart hospital, the Hajipur-Patna railway overbridge and several roads.

But despite this track record the Paswan camp is nervous. The key area of concern is that the anti-Laloo, pro- Nitish sentiment gaining ground might impact Paswan’s fortunes too. Development or no development.

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Outlook accompanied Paswan on the campaign trail and he is still being mobbed and stopped on the roads where people tell him their complaints. He’s confident about a win and has only one lament—and that’s about the Congress. "Lalooji’s right when he says the Congress was also responsible for the Babri demolition. The V.P. Singh government fell over the issue, but he did not let them touch the mosque. And why should Lalooji not be angry? They have put up his saala, who he threw out, against our candidate. Yet I hope the secular forces will still unite...the Congress should withdraw candidates in places where only the NDA stands to benefit."

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Laloo Prasad Yadav and Paswan have joined hands but they still find themselves on the backfoot with the Congress suddenly putting up candidates across the state and splitting votebanks. Paswan’s main rival is Ram Sundar Das, a veteran socialist, former CM of Bihar and a Dalit to boot. Besides cutting into Paswan’s Dalit vote, Das, who is standing on a JD(U) ticket, will get the support of the Rajputs and Bhumihars. Paswan is hoping an alliance with Laloo will help him keep the Yadav votes. Nitish Kumar’s rally in Hajipur drew huge crowds and reportedly had Paswan worried.

And there’s good reason for it. For all that he has done for Hajipur, there are complaints that his party’s being run like a family enterprise. He is the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief, a brother, Pashupati Kumar Paras, is the Bihar state president, while another brother, Ram Chandra Paswan, is the chief of the Dalit Sena. There’s a son too in the picture; Chirag, who is an aspiring actor. Chirag’s presence in Hajipur the day Paswan filed his nomination generated some excitement. He came to canvas for his father and seemed a pro at the job. His long locks and snazzy clothes generated great interest. The boy has apparently found a foothold in Bollywood where his first film is reportedly at the pre-production stage.

But boy idol sons, big projects and so called symbols of modernity can only be the icing. Paswan will be keeping his fingers crossed that he’s got the caste arithmetic right. It’s the key to winning or losing in Bihar, and indeed most of India now.

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