Yadav vs Yadav

Rajiv Singh / ET
The importance of Yadavs in Bihar's caste arithmetic can be realised from the fact that they form the largest caste group in the state. A close second as a group are Muslims. It is this Yadav-Muslim combination that formed the mainstay of Lalu's undisputed dominance in the state's politics since the '90s up to the mid-2000s. In the coming elections, Lalu's sons, Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, are contesting from the Yadav-dominated Mahua and Raghopur constituencies, respectively. 

But the Yadavs it seems are keen to shift allegiances. That was evident in the 2010 elections when, from a high of 124 seats won by RJD in 2000, its tally shrunk to 22. More than the danger from the likes of Pappu Yadav — who was expelled from Lalu's RJD a few months back for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities — is the threat from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has fielded 22 Yadavs for the upcoming polls. A first for the saffron party, which gave tickets to just six Yadavs in the last assembly elections in caste-ridden Bihar, the BJP is trying to make a huge dent in Lalu's vote bank. And this damage, reckon political analysts, will be instrumental in deciding the winner of the Bihar elections.
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Eating into Lalu's vote bank, however, is not going to be easy. In spite of all controversies and setbacks, the RJD chief still has his strong pockets of dominance. And one doesn't need to go too far to find such a place. Sahugarh, 3 km from Madhepura, still beats for the veteran politician. more