Interestingly, several ex-Naxalites and former leaders of private armies of the affluent farmers have found their way into different political parties and have become MLAs and even ministers too.

So apart from Janata Dal (United)-BJP alliance and RJD-LJP combine the CPI ML factor can not be ruled out. The CPI ML, which came overground in 1992, is strong in some pockets of the region and even manages to win a seat or two.

Besides, several Congress candidates in the fray for the fifth phase are likely to do better, more on the basis of their own guts, rather than the party’s support base.

 There are sizeable presence of Naxalites among Koeris, Yadavs, EBCs and Daltis in the region. Even before the advent of Naxals some parts of the Magadh division had influence of movements like Soshit Samaj Dal of Jagdeo Prasad, father of Nagmani, who is now in the Congress. Nagmani’s wife, Suchitra Sinha, till recently minister in the Nitish cabinet, is contesting on the Congress ticket from Kurtha assembly seat. Nagmani is a Koeri. Be it the Left extremists or other open organizations of the backwards and Dalits they were all ganged up against the affluent Bhumiar and Rajput farmers.

However, all equation went haywire in the last five years with men associated with or sympathetic towards the extreme Left movement as well as private armies of farmers both found their way into the ruling combination.

A large number of Koeris, till recently sympathetic towards the MCC, have now joined the Janata Dal (United). But after thebataidari move the Janata Dal (United) has lost hold over Bhumihars and Rajputs of the region.

However Yadavs and Muslims, are still rooting for the RJD, though in the Belaganj assembly seat of Gaya the two may vote for different parties.

Muslims are angry with the RJD candidate, Surendra Yadav, over some local dispute and a sizeable number of them may vote for Janata Dal (United)’s candidate Amjad.

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THE TURBULENT MAGADH :
Bihar is one of the places which has seen the birth of ancient civilization and Indian history. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim and Sikh Shrines abound in this ancient land where India's first major empire rose and fell. It is land of not only the religious preachers but also of Emperors and great warriors. It had four Kingdoms, MAGADH being the most prominent among them.With warriors like Ashoka and Sher shah suri and poets like kalidas, diplomats like chanakya belonging to this soil one can imagine the vibration of this region.Magadh is an untapped natural resource of extraordinary human powers.From Naxalites to hermaphrodites the region has plenty of novelty and talent par excellence.It's a region of enlightenment and ideas.If brought up intelligently this region can give birth to the epoch-makers once again.
Unfortunately though, post independence MAGADH has been cursed for disunity and greed-driven-leadership.The untrue belief in export quality democracy has been rendering power in the hands of idiots without any vision to lead the region towards development.Here caste became a deriving force because there was plenty of time for people to think about who they are than what they are capable of doing.The change has to come from within and one can pin his hope on enlightenment for the salvation of this region or else election after election bihar style democracy will keep on spitting venom only to further the ongoing disintegration of our beloved MAGADH.
ARSHAD MOHSIN