Raghopur/Mahua, Bihar: The political legacy of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Lalu Prasad is at stake in two seats in Vaishali, where the BJP National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying hard to eclipse the 'sonrise' by fielding two rebel sitting legislators of the Janata Dal (United) against his sons, Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejaswi Yadav.
With leaders having switched loyalties, there is confusion not just amongst voters, but party cadres as well in the seats of Raghopur and Mahua constituencies, which go to polls on October 28 in the third phase.
For the past 15 years, Janata Dal (United) of the JD(U) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had locked horns on these two seats.
But with Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar and Mr Prasad buried their differences to forge a grand alliance to counter a resurgent PM Modi led BJP decimated them in the general election last year, the NDA bagging 31 of the state's 40 seats.
The result is that both the JD(U) candidates, who trounced RJD nominees in the last assembly polls, are taking on RJD chief's sons while riding the NDA bandwagon.
Mr Prasad's sons Tej Pratap , 27, and Tejaswi Yadav, 25, are banking as much on their father's Yadav community as on "chacha" or uncle Nitish Kumar to take on Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) nominee Ravindra Rai in Mahua, and 'giant killer' Satish Kumar in Raghopur.
Both Mr Kumar and Mr Rai belong to the same Yadav community. In 2010, Mr Rai had defeated Mr Prasad's wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi in the last election.
Mr Kumar says Tej Pratap and Tejaswi are not only Mr Prasad's sons but also "my candidates".
In Raghopur, he asks his supporters to "chase away" Satish Kumar, saying the giant killer tag on him was a "misnomer". "If you ensure Tejaswi's win, I will take care of Raghopur's development," Mr Kumar says.
Though Mr Prasad has tried to downplay the emergence of his sons in the political arena, RJD supporters insist that the party chief's sons have a clear edge, and are also spreading the buzz that one of the sons could be in line for the Deputy Chief Minister's post if the grand alliance wins.
With leaders having switched loyalties, there is confusion not just amongst voters, but party cadres as well in the seats of Raghopur and Mahua constituencies, which go to polls on October 28 in the third phase.
For the past 15 years, Janata Dal (United) of the JD(U) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had locked horns on these two seats.
The result is that both the JD(U) candidates, who trounced RJD nominees in the last assembly polls, are taking on RJD chief's sons while riding the NDA bandwagon.
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Both Mr Kumar and Mr Rai belong to the same Yadav community. In 2010, Mr Rai had defeated Mr Prasad's wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi in the last election.
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In Raghopur, he asks his supporters to "chase away" Satish Kumar, saying the giant killer tag on him was a "misnomer". "If you ensure Tejaswi's win, I will take care of Raghopur's development," Mr Kumar says.
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