In Bihar, Lalu's sons Tejashwi & Tej Pratap in poll fray for phase 2; face tough challenge

Polling in 71 seats in first phase of Bihar assembly elections has been completed on October 28, with voter turut at 54.26 percent and every party claiming that y had an edge. w, in second phase, 94 assembly seats will be polling and 1510 candidates are in fray. Among or things, what is significant in second phase is that both Yadav brors - Tejashwi and Tej Pratap will seek reelection.

In a first in 40 years, former CM and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has t campaigned for Bihar assembly elections. However, his younger son and former Depuy CM Tejashwi Yadav is CM face of Mahagathbandhan. While Tejashwi is contesting for his current seat of Raghopur, Tej Pratap has changed his seat from Mahua and is contesting from Hasanpur. NDA has attacked RJD and particularly Lalu family for corruption, scams and nepotism, while Tejashwi has claimed that NDA government has done development in Bihar in last 15 years. Here's a look at what is at stake for Yadav scion. 

READ | In Bihar, 'it's Double Engine versus Double Yuvraj' says PM Modi slamming Tejashwi & Rahul

Will Raghopur re-elect Tejashwi?

Tejashwi Yadav is contesting from Raghopur assembly segment in Vaishali district  - which is a part of Hajipur Lok Sabha seat.  31-year-old Tejashwi, had made an electoral debut from Raghopur in 2015. He won election and went on to become deputy to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whom he would call “chacha” (uncle) n., but in 2020 elections, he has claimed Nitish to be a scamster and opportunist and is challenging him for top post. 

Tejashwi's main rival is BJP's Satish Kumar, who had defeated Rabri Devi in 2010 state election. Kumar, however, had lost to Tejashwi in 2015, when Nitish was part of Mahagathbandhan and BJP had gone solo.  Chirag Paswan-headed Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has fielded Rakesh Roshan to make contest triangular. Tejashwi and Satish Kumar are among 12 candidates in fray from Raghopur seat.

Though seat is Yadav-dominated,  and Lalu Yadav had won in 1995, 2000, and his wife Rabri Devi in 2005, Tejashwi has t been able to campaign on a daily basis in constituency, while his opponent is canvassing for votes daily.  LJP's Rakesh Roshan is also active, but BJP minee has claimed that he is t getting support of even Paswans, traditionally an LJP support base. As per census data, 1.30 lakh Yadavs form bulk of voters, constituency has a significant presence of upper-caste Rajputs, whose electorate size is estimated at around 40,000 followed by Muslims at 22,000 and Paswans at 18,000.

READ | Tejashwi Yadav shares old video of PM Modi in Bihar, claims 'he's listing Nitish's scams'

Will shifting to Hasanpur help Tej Pratap?

Tej Pratap Yadav who won 2015 state elections from Mahua has shifted to "safe" seat of Hasanpur assembly segment, after rumours that his estranged wife Aishwariya Rai would contest from re, after his far-in-law Chandrika Rai quit RJD and joined JDU. Even if w it is clear that y are t contesting from Mahua, Tej Pratap's shift is crucial as Mahua is located near Parsa assembly segment, a bastion of his wife Aishwarya Rai's far Chandrika Roy's family.

In Hasanpur, Tej Pratap is pitted against a formidable sitting legislator from JD(U) Raj Kumar Rai, who is holding seat since 2010. Hasanpur seat - Yadav dominated - is located in Samastipur district of Bihar but comes under Khagaria Lok Sabha constituency from where LJP's Choudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser is second consecutive term MP. However, Chirag Paswan has t fielded any candidate on seat which sources have said is to help Tej Partap. re are a total of eight candidates vying for seat.

Tej Pratap is camping in constituency since filing of mination on October 13. Sources on ground say that Tej Pratap has held rallies including door-to-door campaigns and is seen playing cricket, riding a tractor in a field, playing a flute and eating 'litti-Chokha' with people - pictures of se events are also shared on his Twitter profile. Yadavs constitute nearly 65,000 of total voters, while Muslim electorate numbers 25,000. Forward castes' count is around 20,000 while Paswans' strength is around 18,000, Kushwahas (16,000) and Extremely Backward Castes (13,000) are said to constitute reamining.

READ | Bihar Elections: Key issues for electorate as first phase of voting begins

Bihar assembly elections 2020

Incumbent Nitish Kumar is seeking reelection and is CM face for NDA. Mahagathbandhan has chosen Tejashwi Yadav as ir CM face. BJP is contesting on a seat-sharing formula of 121-122 seats with JDU and Mukesh Sahni of Vikasheel Insaan party and Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM(S), while LJP will contest solo. Mahagathbandhan comprising of Congress and three left parties have are contesting on seat-sharing formula of 144-70-29 seats respectively. 

READ | Bihar Elections 2020: Meet 5 Chief Ministerial-aspirants In Fray Before Phase 1 Begins