In fight for M-Y votes,Sadhu rakes up reel issues against Prakash Jha

The battle for this delimitated West Champaran seat (earlier known as Bettiah) has become especially interesting with Prakash Jha,director of the controversial film Gangajal,and the namesake of the villain in the reel story,Sadhu Yadav,locked in a triangular contest with BJPs doctor-turned-politician Sanjay Jaiswal. Jha a native of Champaran,who had contested previous election as an Independent candidate is a nominee of Ram Vilas Paswans LJP,while Sadhu Yadav is contesting on a Congress ticket.

In this constituency,earlier held by the RJD,the Muslim population (about 20 per cent) forms the single largest vote bank and thereby both Jha and Sadhu are out to secure it. Jha is hoping that the development works he has done in the district through his company and NGO,not to speak of the LJPs alliance with Lalu Yadav,will fetch him votes from all sections. Sadhu,on the other hand,is relying on Sonia Gandhis image to secure the Muslim and upper caste votes to make a winning combination along with the Yadavs.

Apart from going out in the field,Jhas team is also using technology in this backward region to win young voters. A team of educated boys and girls selected locally and guided by his team from Mumbai are running a call centre to contact some two lakh phone users in the constituency to urge them to vote for Jha. The film-maker has also used his technicians from Mumbai to build a sprawling office that looks like a virtual film set. He has promised to turn it into an agri-mall that will come as boon for farmers.

Sadhu Yadav,however,is confident that none of the two candidates would be able to match him. I am the number one candidate of the number one party. I am the only full-time politician, he says pointing out how Jha is a film-maker while the BJP candidate is a doctor. He is also using Jhas films to underline his point. In Damul,Prakash Jha had insulted the Brahmins,in Apharan he depicted the Muslims as kidnappers while in Gangajal he tarnished the Yadavs. None of these sections will vote for him. Sadhu avoids making any comment against Lalu,although the RJD boss in his few election meetings in the constituency has called on the voters to reject his estranged brother-in-law.

Jha,meanwhile,is resisting being drawn into the film controversy. Films and real life are two different things. I dont want to get into caste allegations. My plank is development, he says. Yadav voters substantial in number however appeared to be confused. While a good chunk are prepared to vote for Lalus saala in the belief that he would ultimately help Lalu if he wins. Yes we will vote for him,said Bhikan Yadav of Sugauli. Jha is hoping that once Lalu campaigns extensively then majority of the Yadavs would back him.

In the clash of these two high-profile names,BJPs Sanjay Jaiswal hopes to have the last laugh. His father,the late Madan Jaiswal,had represented the seat and died just recently,thereby he is enabling Sanjay to cash in on to the sympathy factor. I am the only local candidate. Prakashji and Sadhuji are outsiders. I am telling the voters that they will leave them after the elections while I will stay here to serve them, he said.