Jehanabad parliamentary constituency: BJP-backed neta seeks another chance

JEHANABAD: Campaigning in a city devoid of basic civic amenities for the past several years is no mean task. But being a veteran in public dealing and master of rhetoric, BJP-backed RLSP candidate for Jehanabad parliamentary constituency Arun Kumar managed to handle the situation with ease. Kumar is also not faced with anti-incumbency factor nor has he to confront the oft-repeated line ..."We have not seen you for five years."
Jagdish Sharma, JD(U) MP from Jehanabad, stands disqualified following his conviction in a fodder scam case. Accompanied by a horde of NDA workers, mostly youth, Kumar set out on a campaign trail in the city here quite early on Monday morning. No vehicle, no security personnel accompanied him as he moved on foot all the way.Frenzied supporters and workers, hospitable response and disenchanted residents were all part of Kumar's campaign in the city. The campaigners passed through Bari Sangat, Thakurbari, Dhibrapar, Pathaktoli, Panchmahalla, Mallahchak, Shyam Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Professors' Colony, Sri Krishnapuri, Raja Bazar and Bishunganj localities of the city. There were several stops as many a time Kumar was garlanded by people who stepped out of their houses to greet him and tell him their woes
Dressed in white kurta-pyjama and bandi, Kumar, who represented the constituency in Parliament between 1999 and 2004, greeted everyone with folded hands and asked them to vote for a strong and stable government led by Narendra Modi at the Centre. Really nothing has changed over the years in this city stinking with heaps of garbage, mosquitoes galore, stagnant and overflowing drains and faces which have lost hope for a better life.
Within minutes of campaigning in the Mallahchak locality, Kumar got a taste of residents' anger over sanitation and water problems when a group of local youth informed him that there had been no scavenging in the locality for the past one month. However, the residents have no grouse against Kumar who has had a good track record of development works during his five-year term in the 13th Lok Sabha. Kumar says, "Trust me. You have watched my performance as an MP. I have lots of ideas up my sleeve for the amelioration of your lot. You give one more chance to this protege of NaMo and you see the difference." The crowd nods in approval.
Kumar made it a point to halt whenever he saw groups of women in a bid to seek their blessings. Chinta Devi, a poor dalit woman of Bishunganj locality, blesses Kumar, "Ja babu tu abki zaroor jitaba (Rest assured, you will surely win this time)". Kumar was made to stop at various points which he did smilingly, always making it a point to tell the accompanying mediapersons, "See you can make out that they are genuinely supporting me. I can make out from the expression on their faces."
In fact, the response Kumar got from the EBCs and Mahadalits, hitherto considered to be the main base of the JD(U), should make his nearest RJD and JD(U) rivals apprehensive. The electorates' mood in the city indicated good times ahead for the NDA candidate Arun Kumar.