Begusarai town in Bihar was being adorned in red flags and festoons ahead of the arrival of Kanhaiya Kumar, the candidate of the Communist Party of India (CPI) from the Lok Sabha constituency which also goes by the same name of this district headquarter town. A team of youth, led by Sanjeev Kumar, Malpur branch secretary of the CPI, was waiting with red Bullets flaunting the red flags. Lining up behind the motorbikes of the youngsters, who are just reaching the voting age, are veteran Communists of Bihar.
The youth in Begusarai, which is one of the 38 districts of Bihar, are obviously excited to sense a Leftist wave sweeping all around.
And the veterans look at Kanhaiya, a Delhi-based student leader who shot into national limelight, with the hope of realising their lost dreams. The CPI volunteers, wearing red caps and red shawls, were waiting at junctions expecting the candidate's convoy.
“The voters of Begusarai will never forsake Kanhaiya Kumar who won Begusarai a place in the country’s national political map,” remarked Sanjeev Kumar when asked about Kanhaiya’s chances in this Lok Sabha contest from the Begusarai constituency. “The youth and students of Begusarai are becoming Kanhaiya’s fans cutting across barriers of caste and religion. The slogan is ‘Abhi nahi to kabhi nahi.’ (Now or Never).”
Kanhaiya’s candidature could be the last chance to flutter the red flag across the skies over Begusarai, Sanjeev added.
The candidate's cavalcade stops at Pansalla Junction for a brief speech by Kanhaiya. Even in attire, Kanhaiya is different from the kurta-clad north Indian politician -- he dons a pair of ordinary jeans, cotton shirt and sandals.
Leaning out of the sun roof of the red Honda car with folded hands, Kanhaiya took the microphone and started with, “Jai Bhim, Lal Salam!’
“There’s no time for a speech, just requesting for your votes. Yet, there are certain points that need to be made. India should be liberated from the draconian rule that devastated the country for the past five years. There should be an end to this anti-people Government that made total fools of the public. We need to muster the strength of the people to combat the money and muscle power of the opponents. Begusarai doesn't need a ‘neta’ (leader) who disappears after winning the elections, but a beta (son) who will look after them,” Kanhaiya said.
Thunderous roars of ‘Zindabad’ broke out from the crowd. Kanhaiya’s motorcade of around 20 cars and more than 100 motorbikes negotiated the narrow villages mud roads. Farmers waved at Kanhaiya from outside their homes. Youngsters jostled for a handshake, shouting slogans.
During a brief stop at the home of a party worker at Bajitpur, Kanhaiya washed his sun-burnt face and hands in the cool water gushing out of the bore well tap near the cattle shed.
Begusarai is known as the ‘Moscow of Bihar' and voters will have to wait for less than a month to know if the place gets a Communist MP.
Excerpts from the interview Kanhaiya Kumar gave for Malayala Manorama:
Q: Who is the real main opponent for you – Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP)’s Giriraj Singh, or Dr. Tanweer Hassan of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)?
A: The BJP, which is trying to spread the politics of hatred and diverting attention from the major issues haunting the country, is the major enemy, both for me as well as for the people. RJD’s stand that the CPI is contesting in Begusarai as BJP's B-team to enable the victory of Giriraj Singh is nothing but childish. No one with any basic political awareness will put forth such an argument.
Q: When the two main candidates (Giriraj Singh and Kanhaiya Kumar) are from the Bhumihar community, which has a strong presence in Begusarai, are pitted against each other, with whom will their community stand?
A: It is not on the basis of caste or religion that I’m seeking electoral support.
Q: But caste politics is a robust reality in Bihar?
A: We’re trying to forge people’s unity, cutting across the barriers of the caste politics. There should be an end to all the violence happening in the name of politics and caste.
Q: Why isn't the Mahagathbandhan, Bihar’s Grand Alliance, not supporting the CPI in Begusarai?
A: They should have supported us for creating a united opposition. But somehow or other, it didn’t happen.
Q: Who will win the majority of seats in Bihar?
A: The Mahagathbandhan should win the majority of seats here.
Q: How do you see the prospects at the national level?
A: Unfortunately, I’m not getting enough time to study the developments at the national level as I am caught in the midst of the campaigning in Begusarai.
Q: How do you view Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala against a CPI candidate?
A: There’s nothing wrong with it. Anyone can contest from anywhere.
Q: Did the CPI leaders from Kerala reach Begusarai to take part in your campaign?
A: Not yet. They may come after the polling in Kerala is over.
Q: How did you form the ‘Azadi’ sloganeering style that attracted national attention as well as controversy ?
A: This sloganeering style was invented by the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA). Many other organisations have been using this style. Now, even the BJP is imitating the Azadi slogan, changing the words.