BJP has a tough task in Bhagalpur bypoll

The Bhagalpur Lok Sabha bypoll, for which the BJP has named former civil aviation minister Shahnawaz Hussain, is likely see a close fight.

There is no decision yet on candidate for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's pocket borough of Nalanda where the JD(U) is expected to win.

Sources said it was odd that Shahnawaz had been asked to shift from Kishanganj on the Indo-Nepal border, the seat he held earlier, to a place as communally sensitive as Bhagalpur, more so when a local leader, Nishikant Dubey, was willing to contest.

Dubey and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi were friends but fell out when Modi moved to the Centre. Since then, Modi has made it a point of prestige to prevent Dubey from getting the ticket.

The move, however, could cost the BJP dear. In Bhagalpur, Muslims, who were victims of the 1989 riots following an attack by the Yadavs, are anti-BJP.

Sushil Modi won because the Hindus voted for him, outvoting the Muslims. The BJP hopes Shahnawaz Hussain will get Muslim votes due to his faith and Hindu votes as he is from the BJP. Neither is likely to vote for him.

The United Progressive Alliance is likely to leave the choice of candidate to RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav.

PCC Chief Sadanand Singh is keen to contest but Prasad is more likely to select Subodh Rai, a CPI(M) veteran who has the support of influential people like local strongman Pattu Khan.