Ranjeet Ranjan's win hinges on rival Kumar's caste equation

Party hopper and Congress nominee Ranjeet Ranjan, wife of controversial MP Pappu Yadav, is seeking re-election from here but rival JD(U)'s Vishwamohan Kumar's equation with his own caste hold the key to results.      

On her part, Ranjeet, who quit the LJP and joined the Congress just before this election, dismisses any worthwhile opposition from both Kumar and LJP's Suryanarain Yadav, among others, in the polls on April 30.      

"There is no potential rival against me from any party. The ruling JD(U) has lost the people's trust in this Kosi belt for its failure to mitigate the miseries caused by the breach in River Kosi in this area," Ranjan told PTI.      

Ranjeet, who hails from Punjab, is banking on the support of the Yadavs, Muslims and upper caste people, besides her husband's influence in the area.       

However, political analysts feel if JD(U)'s Kumar succeeds in getting a sizable chunk of the Vaishya votes — the community to which he belongs— he may queer the pitch for Ranjeet.      

Of the 12,75,398 voters in this seat, Vaishyas account for about 4 lakh votes followed by Yadavas (3.15 lakh), Muslims (1.75 lakh), Rajputs and Brahmins (1.5 lakh each).      

The Congress nominee sought to attack the JD(U) government in Bihar for its "failure" to extend immediate relief to victims in Supaul after the Kosi river caused unprecedented floods, claiming several lives and rendering lakhs of people homeless.