Rebels play decisive role in seven Bhojpur seats

ARA: All the seven assembly constituencies in Bhojpur district, dominated by Rajputs, Bhumihars, Yadavs, Brahmins and Kushwahas, are likely to witness close contests this year. The upper castes will play a vital role in deciding the fate of candidates in the district.
Sandesh, Ara, Shahpur and Agiaon (R) constituencies are currently represented by BJP; Barhara and Jagdishpur by RJD and Tarari by JD(U).However, candidates of major political parties are finding the going tough this year due to presence of rebels who may play spoilsport for the two main rival formations – NDA and Mahagathbandhan.
With RJD rebels Dinesh Kumar Singh alias Bhai Dinesh and Raghwendra Pratap Singh joining the fray from Jagdishpur and Barhara constituencies, respectively, the contest has become even more tougher for official RJD candidates. While Bhai Dinesh is fighting the election as independent candidate, Reghwendra has jumped into the poll fray on Samajwadi Party ticket. Both had won their seats in 2010 assembly election as RJD candidates, but were denied tickets by the party this time. RJD has fielded Ram Vishnu Singh from Jagdishpur and Sanjay Yadav from Barhara. Bhai Dinesh may split Yadav votes in Jagdishpur while Raghwendra is working hard to consolidate Rajput and Yadav votes against Sanjay Yadav and BJP candidate Asha Devi.
Ara assembly constituency may also witness triangular contest with BJP, RJD and CPI-ML candidates leaving no stone unturned to taste victory. Four-term BJP MLA Amrendra Pratap Singh is contesting election from the seat for the fifth time. RJD’s Neyaz Alam and CPI-ML’s Quamuddin are likely to give him a tough fight. In Shahpur, BJP denied ticket to sitting MLA Munni Devi and fielded Visheshwar Ojha, resulting in great resentment among her supporters. Munni Devi, though, is seen canvassing for the party candidate. Rahul Tiwari of RJD and Brindanand Singh of CPI-ML are also working hard to win the seat.
In Sandesh, Arun Kumar (RJD), sitting MLA Sanjay Singh (BJP) and Raju Yadav (CPI-ML) are locked in a triangular contest. Arun Kumar and his brother Vijendra Yadav had contested the 2010 election separately, helping Sanjay Singh to win the seat by more than 7,000 votes. Raju Yadav had unsuccessfully contested 2014 parliamentary election from Ara. The BJP has again fielded sitting MLA Shivesh Kumar from Agiaon (R) constituency while CPI-ML has fielded Manoj Kumar and JD(U) Prabhunath Prasad. Manoj Kumar is contesting from behind the bars.
In Tarari, JD(U) denied ticket to sitting MLA Narendra Kumar Pandey alias Sunil Pandey, prime accused in Ara civil court bomb blast case. Pandey, who was granted bail by a court recently, will take on Geeta Pandey (LJP), Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Congress) and Sudama Prasad (CPI-ML).