Patna: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has granted tickets to three members of the family of seasoned leader Arun Kumar from Jehanabad. This ticket distribution, spread across two NDA constituents, the Janata Dal United [JD (U)] and the Hindustani Awam Morcha- Secular (HAM-S), underscores the deeply rooted dynastic politics and influence of the Bhumihar community in the region.
The distribution of tickets is as follows:
- Rituraj Kumar (Arun Kumar’s son) will contest the Ghosi seat in Jehanabad district on a JD (U) ticket.
- Anil Kumar (Arun Kumar’s brother) has been fielded by HAM– S from the Tikari seat in Gaya district, a constituency he currently represents.
- Romit Kumar (Arun Kumar’s nephew/third brother’s son) has been given the HAM-S ticket for the Atari seat in Gaya district.
All three constituencies—Ghosi, Tikari, and Atari—fall within the larger political sphere of the Jehanabad Lok Sabha constituency, which Arun Kumar has represented multiple times in the past.
The Return of Arun Kumar
The development comes after a prolonged period of political uncertainty for Arun Kumar. Following a split with Chirag Paswan, the veteran leader had been attempting to return to the JD (U) fold. His re-entry was initially scheduled for September but was postponed due to unexpected unavailability of key JD (U) leaders, including State President Umesh Kushwaha.
However, a strategic political manoeuvre by Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who inducted Rahul Sharma (son of prominent Bhumihar leader Jagdish Sharma, a rival of Arun Kumar) into the RJD, seemingly accelerated the NDA’s decision. To counter the RJD’s move in Jehanabad politics, Arun Kumar’s return to the JD (U) was formalized, and his son Rituraj was immediately awarded the Ghosi ticket. Rituraj has already filed his nomination papers.
Interestingly, the meeting that finalized Arun Kumar’s return was attended by the same leader whose instruction had initially caused the delay in September. JD (U) leader Ashok Chaudhary, whose son-in-law was previously active in Ghosi and had aspirations for the seat, was also present and later seen at Rituraj’s nomination filing.
Anil Kumar’s Electoral History
The family’s political strength is underpinned by the electoral career of Arun Kumar’s brother, Anil Kumar. Anil is a four-time MLA and the sitting HAM-S MLA from Tikari. His career has seen him contest successfully across different parties and constituencies: winning the Konch seat in both the February and October 2005 elections (for LJP and JD (U), respectively), and winning Tikari for JD (U) in 2010.
While he lost the 2015 Tikari election while contesting for HAM-S against JD (U)’s Abhay Kushwaha (who is now the RJD MP from Aurangabad), Anil successfully regained the seat on a HAM-S ticket in the 2020 Assembly polls.
Factional Bonds and Family Ties
The third ticket goes to Romit Kumar, the son of Arun Kumar’s third brother, Arvind Kumar. Romit is a significant figure within HAM-S, serving as party’s national spokesperson. He has also filed his nomination from Atari.
Despite all three men belonging to the same extended family, local observers note that Arun Kumar’s relationship with his two brothers, Anil and Arvind, is not particularly close. In contrast, Anil Kumar and Romit Kumar are known to share a good rapport, reflected in their political alignment within the same party, HAM-S.
