Pataliputra braces for ‘chacha-bhatiji’ poll battle, again

PATNA: Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency in Patna is set to witness a high-profile poll battle between ‘chacha’ Ram Kripal Yadav and ‘bhatiji’ Misa Bharti.
Ram Kripal, a former RJD stalwart, had joined the BJP prior to the 2014 general election after Lalu Prasad gave party ticket for Pataliputra constituency to his eldest daughter Misa Bharti. Ram Kripal got ticket from BJP for the same Pataliputra constituency and won the election, defeating Misa.
He is seeking re-election on BJP ticket from the same constituency comprising six assembly segments – Danapur, Maner, Phulwari, Masaurhi, Paliganj and Bikram.
Misa’s younger brother and leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav announced her name as the party’s candidate for the Pataliputra seat on Friday.
The Yadav-dominated Pataliputra constituency is a high-stake seat for the RJD as Misa as well as her father Lalu had unsuccessfully contested from the seat in the past.
Misa’s candidature from Pataliputra seat was advocated by her brother Tej Pratap Yadav as well. “The people of Pataliputra want Misa didi,” Tej, the elder Yadav scion, had said.
The ‘chahcha-bhatiji’ poll battle in Patalaiputra is also likely to witness a fierce verbal duel. In a public meet at Bikram in January, Misa had said she felt like chopping off Ram Kripal’s hands the day she saw him holding hands with senior BJP functionary and Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi.
Later, Ram Kripal, who had served the RJD for 17 years, said he would bless Misa, who is like his daughter, even with chopped hands.
According to close aides of Misa, she has been frequently criss-crossing the constituency from past couple of months. “She has been attending public meetings, religious and cultural events to connect with the people of the constituency. The strategy for her formal electioneering is being chalked. She will be accompanied by her husband Shailesh Kumar during campaigns,” a senior member of RJD women’s cell and close aide of Misa said.
Forty-two-year-old Misa, mother of a daughter, has undergone convent education. She also holds an MBBS degree.
Ram Kripal, a three-time MP, has also started addressing election meetings in places like Danapur and Maner. Sources said Ram Kripal is yet to finalise the date for filling nomination papers as Pataliputra will go to the polls in the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 19.