On Rabri seat,growth overrides caste politics

Development seems to have made a dent in Bihars caste-ridden politics. In Saidpur,10 km from Sonepur,that saw RJD nominee and former chief minister Rabri Devi campaign recently,a rickshawpullers 10-year-old daughter wants her parents to vote for the Nitish Kumar-led NDA. Her reason: she wants to continue going to school,and once she is in class nine ride the bicycle that the state government allots to girl students. A villager earning his living by working as a labourer,Harinarain Mahto,points towards schoolchildren making boats out of BSP pamphlets. He says that with each child getting a pair of uniform,the boys here wear it throughout the day. After all,the uniform is the best dress that they have. Mahto says compared to five years ago when only 50 per cent children attended school,now everyone sends their wards to the local school. They get free meal,books and uniform. And the teachers are regular too, he says.

During her campaign,Rabri avoided making eye contact with people,complain villagers. She met OBC,EBC and SC women. Just as she was about to leave,an elderly woman whispered that Rabri has come to seek votes and her next visit will be only after five years. Of course,in the din of slogan-raising,Rabri may not have heard the comment. This was also the general complain against her at Raghopur.

Besides Raghopur,which she had won by less than 1,000 votes last time,she has also decided to contest from Sonepur,from where her husband started his political career and considers it his pocket-borough.

At Sonepur chowk,saresha khaini (a local variety of tobacco) being chopped for packaging is a common sight. An ardent Lalu Prasad voter mentions that the RJD chief likes Sonepur khaini. At the chowk the debate centres around five years versus 15 years,roads versus no roads,crime versus no fear.