Syed Shahabuddin in race for Rajya Sabha seat from Bihar

despite his all out effort to wean away the state’s strong Muslim votebank from rival RJD. Election for five seats in the state is scheduled for March 26.

The sources said Shahabuddin had met Kumar on two occasions — at New Delhi and Patna — and is said to have “pleaded” his case. Shahabuddin, it has been learnt, is using his “strong Bihar connection” to press his nomination. He had represented the Kishanganj Lok Sabha seat in the state twice — 1984-89 and 1991-96. Further, his Bihar cadre IAS son-in-law Afzal Amanullah holds the important position of Principal Home Secretary in the state.

Choosing a Muslim candidate on the basis of his “utility” and “ability” to garner votes of the community has become a tough task for Kumar. The sources said from Shahabuddin’s “stature”, his candidature was being backed by some influential quarters, making it difficult for Kumar to ignore.

On the basis of “political utility”, however, JD(U) leaders feel that Shahabuddin’s anointment will not benefit the party much in Bihar’s electoral arena. Kumar’s stress so far has been on targeting backwards among the Muslims who constitute the majority. Last time, he had surprised political pundits by nominating a journalist-turned-activist, Ali Anwar, championing the cause of backward caste Muslims. Anwar hailed from the Ansari community that forms the largest chunk among the backwards. This time, yet another such leader, Ejaj Ali, whose community ranks second in numerical terms after the Ansaris, is in the race. Ali had even campaigned for the JD(U) in the recently held Lok Sabha bypoll.

Apart from the Muslim factor, Kumar’s latest social engineering calls for nominating a “Maha Dalit” (Dalit among Dalits) to the Upper House. Party sources said a “Maha Dalit” was sure to be nominated. Further, former top bureaucrat and State Planning Board Deputy Chairman N K Singh is tipped to be the second assured candidate from the JD(U)’s side.

In the upper caste quota, party spokesman Shivanand Tiwary, too, is a strong contender.

Kumar, however, is not in a position to oblige all the strong contenders. On the basis of their strengths in the Assembly, ruling partners JD(U) and BJP are sure to capture two and one seat, respectively, while opposition RJD will get one seat in its kitty. For the fifth seat, a keen contest is on the cards and the JD(U) is eyeing to usurp it with the support of independent MLAs. A sixth seat, with two years left, has also fallen vacant due to the demise of RJD MP Motiur Rehman.