Gaya/Patna: The Barachatti reserved assembly constituency in Gaya district, traditionally rooted in legacy politics, became the center of a dramatic ticket change by the Grand Alliance on the final day of nominations.
The contest had initially been framed around Samta Devi, daughter of the revered late former MP and MLA Bhagwati Devi. Throughout Sunday, Samta Devi was widely recognized as the official candidate, prompting party workers to mobilize and begin preparing posters and banners in anticipation of her filing.
However, the political script was abruptly rewritten on Monday afternoon. Instead of Samta Devi, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) headquarters issued the official party symbol letter in the name of her daughter, Tannushree Manjhi. With time running out, Tannushree Manjhi rushed to the Sherghati subdivision office to file her nomination, leaving the originally assigned party symbol for Samta Devi—the official recognition to contest—unused in her mother’s possession.
Confusion and Calculation at the Grassroots
This unexpected, last-minute substitution has generated significant confusion and friction among the RJD’s local cadre. The energy and initial organizational push behind Samta Devi, based on her direct link to the established political line of Bhagwati Devi, faced a moment of disorientation as the local leadership scrambled to pivot to the new candidate.
The incident has fueled intense speculation within political circles across the region. The central question revolves around the motive: was this a carefully engineered strategic move, or did it stem from last-minute pressure, be it internal party lobbying, a challenger to Samta Devi’s candidacy, or logistical confusion?
