Three Women Lead Fierce Electoral Battle in Border Constituency
The Parihar assembly constituency in Sitamarhi district, located near the India-Nepal border, has become the stage for an intense three-way electoral contest that is capturing statewide attention. The political arena features expelled RJD leader Ritu Jaiswal contesting as an Independent candidate against BJP's sitting MLA Gayatri Devi and RJD's official nominee Smita Gupta.
Rebellion and Political Drama
The constituency first made headlines during the nomination phase when Ritu Jaiswal revolted against her party after being denied a ticket. This rebellion led to her eventual expulsion from the RJD for six years, setting the stage for her independent campaign. The history between the main contenders adds depth to this political drama - in the 2020 election, Jaiswal was defeated by Gayatri Devi, but by a remarkably thin margin, making their rematch particularly significant.
This electoral battle becomes even more interesting with nine candidates in total, three of whom are prominent women leaders. BJP's Gayatri Devi is aiming for a hat-trick victory from this constituency, while Jaiswal has been following the political model of Pappu Yadav, who won the Lok Sabha elections as an Independent despite joining Congress.
Family Connections and Caste Equations
The contest also highlights significant political lineages and family connections. Gayatri Devi is the wife of Ram Naresh Yadav, who has previously won this seat, while Smita Gupta is the daughter-in-law of senior RJD functionary Ram Chandra Purvey. The family connections add another layer to this already complex political scenario.
Meanwhile, the Muslim vote bank appears to be divided, with some Muslim Kshatrapas reportedly supporting Jaiswal, creating challenges for the official RJD candidate. However, as Parwaha village native Safi Haider pointed out, Muslim voters cannot be taken for granted by alliance parties. Voters like Parsa villagers Mohd Ummid and Mohd Hasim Mian represent the undecided electorate that could swing the election.
Star Campaigners and Electoral Mathematics
The campaign has seen high-profile political figures entering the fray. Former minister Purvey has been continuously working to gather support for his daughter-in-law Smita Gupta, while RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the INDIA bloc's chief ministerial face, has addressed several rallies in her support.
On the opposing side, the BJP candidate received significant boosts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in Sitamarhi, where he campaigned for eight NDA candidates including Gayatri Devi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's campaign efforts provided additional momentum for the BJP nominee.
The constituency has 3.32 lakh electors, comprising 1.57 lakh women voters and 24 third-gender voters, making the women's vote particularly crucial in this women-dominated contest. As polling day approaches, all three major candidates are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to secure victory in this strategically important border constituency.
