Bihar: JD(U) gets three of four seats in Seemanchal

By:
Ramashankar

PATNA: Three out of the four seats in Seemanchal region have been given to the JD(U), while Araria seat has gone to the BJP’s kitty. While the JD(U) has fielded Mahmood Asraf from Kishanganj, Santosh Kushwaha from Purnia and Dulal Chandra Goswami from Katihar, respectively, the BJP has fielded Pradeep Singh from Araria.


JD(U) nominee from Katihar

Lok Sabha

constituency Dulal Chand Goswami comes from ‘Hindutva’ background.

Goswami, who was earlier closely associated with the RSS and the VHP, had even won election from Barsoi assembly constituency in Katihar district on a BJP ticket in 1995. He had then defeated Munaf Alam of CPI(ML).

Goswami, sources said, had also worked for the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad during his college days. A graduate from L N Mithila University, Darbhanga, Goswami comes from extremely backward caste (EBC) community.

Goswami was made a minister in the Jitan Ram Manjhi cabinet in May 2014 after Nitish Kumar resigned from the post owing to the defeat of the party in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Goswami was given labour department portfolio. In 2010 assembly election, he had won as independent from Rampur assembly constituency in Katihar district.

Goswami’s candidature from Katihar Lok Sabha constituency is considered significant due to his acceptability in all sections of society. “He has represented the assembly constituency at least twice and is very popular among the voters across all sections,” said a JD(U) functionary of Katihar.