Biharis Spice Up Delhi Election With ‘Purvanchali Tadka’
By Ramakant Chaudhary
The countdown of Delhi assembly election, February 8, begins and political parties—AAP, BJP and Congress—have started somersaulting to lure Purvanchal based voters in many ways: from ticket distributions to electrifying campaign with Bhojpuri song.
Evolved from slang “Bihari” word, Purvanchalis in Delhi have now become become a poll hot-potato as all major political parties are vying to take its lion’s share. On lighter note, hot potato is the most-loved ingredient of Purvanchali dish whether it is “Daal-Bhat-Chokha (mashed potatoes) or “International Litti Chokha.
There is a demographic calculation that makes the Purvanchali hot-potato indispensible for the political parties flexing their muscles to win the ballot-battle of Delhi.
As much as 30-32 percent people of total Delhi electorates, 1.47 crore, form Purvanchali voters. There are 27-30 seats where Purvanchal based voters spin poll momentum and of these 15 seats are dominated by them (Eastenders). By this calculation, Purvanchal voters make up for three-fourths of majority mark (36) of 70-member Delhi assembly. This makes them formidable in all sorts of elections in Delhi. This is the potent reason that all political parties are bound to follow standard formula of wooing “Eastenders” in order to wear the crown of Delhi election.
While the Purvanchali community — coming from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh— includes people from different castes and religions, their roots unite them in the economically promising Delhi where they come for searching greener pastures.
AAP has this time fielded 15 Purvanchal based leaders while 2015 Delhi assembly poll witnessed 12 candidates in electoral fray.
Playing catch-up with AAP, the BJP is also hoping for Purvanchal vote block by fielding eight candidates while it picked only three candidates having Purvanchal connection in 2015.
To pull away Purvanchali voters to its fold, BJP has stitched alliance with JD(U) for Delhi election giving it two seats, Sangam Vihar and Burari. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is reported to campaign for the NDA in Delhi. This thing has happened first time in the history of Delhi election.
BJP and Congress are mindful of the fact that Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is sweeping considerable supports of Purvanchali people.
Sensing the groundswell of “Look East” poll policy, the Congress has given tickets to three Purvanchali nominees including Poonam Azad, wife of cricketer turned politician Kirti Azad. Other two Congress candidates are contesting election from Rithala and Palam assembly segments.
Bowing down to the influence of the Purvanchali population, political parties have projected Maithili-Bhojpuri speaking faces to lead their election blitz.
Bhojpuri biggest star Manoj Tiwari is spearheading the poll campaign as Delhi BJP unit head. For Congress, Kirti Azad Azad, who has served three-term MP from Bihar’s Darbhanga, leading the party lot as chif of campaign committee. AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, who belongs to Sultanpur district of UP, is the party’s campaign committee chief.
Which political party stomaches or who satiates its electoral taste-buds with Purvanchali “hot-potato”, only February 11 (counting day) will tell. So, Biharis have spiced up the Delhi poll with Purvanchali Tadka. Enjoy, AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s tweeted video: “Jhanse Me Nahi Aayenge, Jhaaru Par Button Dabayenge, Thik Hai.”
(The writer is Sr Journalist and Political Commentator.)
