The Union Agriculture Minister and veteran leader of the BJP, Radha Mohan Singh, considered as a heavyweight candidate for 2019 general elections as he may be the sole choice of the BJP for East Champaran Lok Sabha seat. He represents the parliamentary constituency. This constituency came into existence in 2008, following delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies based on the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission of India constituted in 2002.
The constituency comprises the following six assembly segments- Harsidhi, Govindganj, Kesaria, Kalyanpur, Pipra and Motihari. In NDA alliance, the East Champaran Lok Sabha seat may go in BJP fold and not the JDU. Radha Mohan Singh has been retaining this seat since long but episodically. Before delimitation in 2008, this seat was Motihari Lok Sabha constituency. In 1989, for the first time Radha Mohan Singh got elected as an MP from this seat and then it was in 1996, 1999, 2009 and 2014 when he was victorious. His stature has grown which can be traced by seeing his performance in the previous election- in 2009, he won by a margin of 79,290 votes which substantially rose to 1,92,163.
Interestingly this seat gave winning candidates such as Kamal Mishra Madhukar of the CPI in 1991, Rama Devi and Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh of RJD in 1998 and 2004. On the other hand, there’s no dearth of stakeholder of East Champaran Lok Sabha seat. Mahagathbandhan’s clans of leaders are strategizing to halt a winning streak of Radha Mohan Singh. RJD, INC, RLSP and VIP all are eying this seat but RJD is said to have last say on it. RJD’s former MLA Rajesh Ranjan and MLA from Kesaria Dr. Rajesh Kumar are two speculative contenders for it.
Upper caste vote has remained a point of consolidation for the BJP but Kushwaha, minorities, Mallah andYadavv electorate are also decisive factors. Upendra Kushawaha and Mukesh Sahni will be laying stress to grab the seat. BJP is playing the card of development. Assumptions of BJP on- setting up a Central University, commencing Champaran Mahotsav and celebration of 150th anniversary of M.K.Gandhi may reap results in its favour.
