Kosi voters’ dilemma: Caste or development-October 21, 2010

Kosi voters’ dilemma: Caste or development

October 21, 2010 9:01:50 AM

Amarnath Tewary | Saharsa-Madhepura-Supaul

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s development plank appears to be locked in a tough battle with caste conundrum in Kosi region of Madhepura, Saharsa and Supaul. Election will be held in 13 Assembly constituencies in the region on Thursday.

Travelling across the Kosi belt, one can get a fair idea on how people invariably talk about development works carried out by Nitish Government. But pushed further they fail to hide the dilemma of choosing between caste and development.

“Nitishji has done development work and those who say that they are not seeing it are complete fools. He should again be given a chance but it’s also true Yadavs were pushed to wall during his regime”, said Chandrama Yadav of Bihariganj.

When asked whether he would vote for development or caste, Yadav says, “Caste ke bahar aadmi kaise jiyega? Yeh toh janam ke saath hi mil jaata hai aur ant tak saath rehta hai.”

Caste appears to be a stark reality in the heartland of Madhepura, a place famously known for its caste epithet: “Rome Pope ka, Madhepura Gope ka”.

The calculus of caste in Kosi, though is not a new phenomenon, but this time the issue of development by the present regime has come out as tough poser for the voters.

Interestingly, it’s the lower section of the society —Extremely backward castes — which rallied more vociferously for Nitish Government’s development plank.

“Vote toh Nitishji ko hi milna chahiye …isliye ki who kuchch kar ke dikhaye hain… baaki log to bas bhashan dete hain aur apna vikas karte hain”, said Sharief Alam of Alamnagar constituency in Madhepura.

While listing better roads, improved law and order situation and functioning schools in the area, the residents of Kosi unequivocally heaped praise on the State Government for the development work carried out during the last five years.

“You cannot refute these signs of development which are quite visible…Nitish Kumar at least has brought vikas as the poll agenda this time in the elections,” said Nawal Kishore Prasad, a Retd. engineer of Supaul,.

But, would it be translated into vote for Nitish Kumar?

“I don’t know. In Bihar, people don’t cast their vote, but vote for their caste,” he said..

But, Rajendra Sada, a lower caste labourer disagreed. “Nahi-ji Nitishji ko vote milega, caste khane ko toh nahi deta hai na,” he said and declared that he would vote for any candidate fielded by Nitish Kumar.

Sada also admitted that his nephew had clicked Nitish Kumar in his mobile phone when he had come in the area for campaigning. “Unlike Lalu Prasad he talks sense and looks a decent and honest man. He is trying to do a lot but his officials are proving to be a major roadblock,” he said.

Across the Kosi hinterland Nitish Government’s development work has become an issue but the inadequate relief and rehabilitation works for the flood victims is a source of dissatisfaction.

It would be interesting to see whether development pays any dividend or the caste decides the fate of candidates in this part of Bihar.