Candidates never bother to visit these villages

SASARAM: Elections generally bring along rush of candidates who move from village to village seeking votes. A part of Sasaram reserved
constituency, however, presents a diametrically opposite picture.

Located on Kaimur Hills, a cluster of around 30 villages spread over Rohtas and Nauhatta blocks, has never caught the fancies of Lok Sabha (LS) aspirants in the last 40 years. So much so that candidates do not even bother to visit these villages.

No one comes here, said septuagenarian Ram Das Oraon of Nagatoli village, adding, villagers decide about their options using their own wit. Haridwar Singh Kharwar of Launi village has never seen any senior political leader and sometimes he feels frustrated about this neglect. "No one appears to be interested in us, else leaders would have definitely come to this area too," he said.

RJD candidate from Sasaram constituency Lalan Paswan attributes this phenomenon to the pressure from the local police. "I tried to visit the area, but the police did not give me permission citing security reasons," he said.

Gandhi Azad, who is in the fray on BSP ticket, echoed Paswan and said, "The moment one tries to go there police officials start talking of security-related problems."

Admitting the security problem, a senior police official, who requested anonymity, said, "The whole region is Naxalite-infested and several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been found on roads leading to these villages." He said that keeping the ground realities in mind, police advise leaders to visit those areas only during daytime.

A local political worker, Rajeshwar Prasad, said that security reasons apart, the cluster of villages could not attract leaders for political reasons. There are hardly 8,000 to 10,000 voters in the area and majority of them did not cast votes as they have to come down the hills for this purpose. This has worked as a deterrent as leaders prefer to cover areas visiting which they could get good number of votes, he said.

This factor, however, would be nullified this parliamentary poll as the local administration has decided to set up about 10 polling booths up on the hills.

Happy over the move of the local administration, the villagers of the region are busy discussing the options. But, lack of political education is coming in their way.

"We will cast our vote, but any final call regarding our preferences would be taken only at the last moment as voters here do not even know how many candidates are there in the fray and who would be the best option for them," said Kishwar Oraon of Rehal village.

Source : Times of india