Children of JDU Ministers Clash in Bihar's Samastipur Lok Sabha Race

The Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar is witnessing an unusual contest in the 2024 general elections, with the children of two ministers in the Nitish Kumar-led JD-U government pitted against each other. Sunny Hazari, son of minister Maheshwar Hazari, has filed his nomination on a Congress ticket, while Shambhavi Chaudhary, daughter of minister Ashok Chaudhary, is contesting on an LJP (Ram Vilas) ticket.

The candidature of Sunny Hazari and Shambhavi Chaudhary has intensified the political buzz in the region ahead of the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 26, 2024. The Election Commission has received a total of 2,633 nominations for this phase, with 1,206 candidates from 12 states and union territories, along with 4 candidates from the Outer Manipur PC, set to participate in the elections.

Maheshwar Hazari, the JD-U minister and father of Sunny Hazari, said, "My son is an adult and has the liberty to make his own choices to contest on a Congress ticket. My blessings will always be with him, and he will benefit from my name and work in the area." However, Maheshwar Hazari was not present when Shambhavi Choudhary filed her nomination, though JD-U MP Ramnath Thakur was there.

Addressing the political landscape of Samastipur, Maheshwar Hazari stated, "Samastipur has been the land of socialists, and the people here are politically very conscious. They cannot allow money play or any outsider. The people of Samastipur will ultimately decide the outcome."

The LJP-R chief Chirag Paswan has been attacking Maheshwar Hazari as anti-Paswan. In response, Maheshwar Hazari expressed surprise at Chirag Paswan's actions, noting that it was his father Ram Sevak Hazari who brought late Ram Vilas Paswan into politics.

Why this matters: The contest between the children of two JD-U ministers in Samastipur highlights the complex political dynamics and family ties within the ruling party in Bihar. The outcome of this election could have implications for the internal power dynamics of the JD-U and its alliance with the BJP in the state.

As the campaign heats up in Samastipur, both Sunny Hazari and Shambhavi Chaudhary will be banking on their family legacies and the support of their respective parties to win over the politically conscious voters of the constituency. With the people of Samastipur set to decide the outcome, this unique electoral battle is sure to be closely watched by political observers across the country.

Key Takeaways

• Two JD-U ministers' children contest against each other in Samastipur, Bihar.
• Sunny Hazari (Congress) and Shambhavi Chaudhary (LJP-R) are the candidates.
• Maheshwar Hazari supports his son Sunny but was absent when Shambhavi filed nomination.
• Samastipur is known for politically conscious voters, who will decide the outcome.
• The contest highlights complex dynamics within the ruling JD-U party in Bihar.