Upendra Kushwaha, Asaduddin Owaisi float political front in Bihar

PATNA: A group of smaller parties, including RLSP, BSP and AIMIM, on Thursday floated a new political combination — Grand Democratic Secular Front (GDSF) — to take on RJD-led Grand Alliance (GA) and NDA in the state assembly elections.
The leaders of the newly created front unanimously declared former Union minister and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha as their CM face. Former Union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav was appointed convener of the new front. “We will fight together and give a formidable alternative to the people in the upcoming elections,” AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owasi said at a joint press conference of the GDSF leaders.
While AIMIM has its influence in border districts like Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria and Katihar in Seemanchal, BSP is considered a force to reckon with in the districts like Gopalganj, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad and Buxar, which are close to the UP border. Kushawaha’s projection as CM candidate may dent the EBC votes.
EBC constitutes around 29-30% of the state’s population and Muslims 16%. The scheduled castes constitute around 17%. If combined together, they all constitute around 63% of state’s population. However, NDA claims to have a lion’s share in the EBC votes.
Koeris, the caste Kushwaha belongs to, constitute around 4-5%. “If Pappu Yadav led political group joins the GDSA, it will certainly give a befitting answer to the two political combinations,” a political observer said, adding Yadavs alone constitute around 14% of state’s population.
He, however, added there were chances of Hindu voters getting disenchanted with the GDSF due to the Owaisi factor. He said under such a situation, polarisation of Hindu votes cannot be ruled out, which will ultimately benefit the ruling NDA.
The Hyderabad MP, whose party had opened its account in Bihar by winning the Kishanganj seat in byelection last year, alleged that 15-year rule of JD(U)-BJP and another 15 years of RJD-Congress didn’t benefit the people of the state. “The state is lagging behind on social-economic and education integrators,” he said.
Elaborating the purpose behind forming a new political combination in the state, Owaisi said, “We have formed an alliance for the betterment of the state. We hope we will succeed and people will shower their blessings on us.”
RLSP chief Kushwaha said Bihar has been pushed back as far education is concerned. “Youths are forced to migrate from the state in search of work. In Bihar, both the NDA and the GA have failed to stand to people’s expectations,” he added.
Samajwadi Dal (Democratic) and Jantantrik Party (Socialist) have also joined the GDSF.