STAR POWER MEETS CASTE POLITICS IN CHHAPRA BATTLE

Khesari Lal Yadav's debut electrifies Chhapra as BJP faces internal splits.

- TIKAM SHARMA

The Chhapra Assembly constituency has emerged as one of the most closely watched and high-stakes contests in the Bihar Assembly elections. Scheduled to vote in the first phase on November 6, the seat is witnessing a multi-cornered battle featuring RJD's Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav, BJP's Chhoti Kumari, and Jan Suraaj Party's Jai Prakash Singh. Adding further intrigue, Rakhi Gupta, a former municipal council mayor and BJP rebel, has entered the fray, making the contest even more unpredictable and threatening to split traditional BJP votes - a challenge for the party's internal equation.

The RJD's decision to field Khesari Lal Yadav has thrust Chhapra into the media and public spotlight. The actor's immense popularity across towns and villages has injected glamour into the race. Yet, as political experts emphasize, Chhapra's electoral dynamics go far deeper than celebrity appeal — they are rooted in complex caste equations and entrenched vote banks, both of which could pose formidable challenges to Khesari despite his mass following.