By Vishwapati
Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar mostly backed the sitting MPs, sending a signal to Opposition parties that it was confident of pro-incumbency under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
That the saffron party reposed faith in majority of sitting MPs, fielding 14 and dropping two, did not come as a surprise to many. One seat, Sheohar, which the BJP won in 2019, has gone to the Janata Dal (United) under the seat-sharing arrangement.
In Patna Sahib, sitting MP Ravi Shankar Prasad finds himself in the poll fray, having succeeded in securing the BJP ticket. However, as soon as his candidacy was announced, many voters, especially in several areas of the Fatuha block, have started voicing their opposition to the BJP’s pick for the Patna Sahib.
Voters in the Fatuha assembly segment of Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, have openly started expressing their discontent towards the BJP candidate. They have even announced their intention to boycott the election alleging lack of proper development of the area in the last five years.
At many places in the area, people have decided greet Prasad with the slogan, “No work, no vote”.
Notably, in ward number 8 of Saidpur village in the Pitamberpur panchayat of the Fatuha block, the residents have put up banners declaring their intention to boycott elections due to lack of comprehensive development initiatives in their locality.
Deep-seated resentment against Prasad, a former Union minister, is palpable among voters in many other localities of the constituency. According to Fatuha block pramukh Rajneesh Kumar, the people had elected Prasad with the hope that he would live up to their expectations. “But, he has disappointed but of Fatuha,” Rajneesh Kumar said.
“Over the past five years, there has been a notable absence of development work in the region, for which voters seem ready to hold Prasad accountable,” he said. Many villagers also cited deteriorating condition of schools, absence of basic amenities, like proper roads and drainage system, as reasons for their disillusionment with the incumbent MP. “In such a situation, we will boycott the election,” they said.
Shailendra Kumar, another resident, expressed his dismay over Prasad’s lack of significant accomplishments during his tenure. “The sitting MP should count the work done in the last five years. If no work has been done, how can one vote?” he said.
