“I can’t figure out what to do. Both their rallies are getting similar crowds. Kaun aage hai (who is ahead)?” an exasperated Muslim man asked The Telegraph on Sunday at a CPIML-Liberation rally in the bustling heart of this town.

In Rajdhanwar, the political scene is heating up as voters in Giridih district grapple with their choices for the upcoming elections.

Jharkhand BJP president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi is running again from this seat, having previously won in 2019 under his Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) banner before merging the party with the BJP in 2020. His main challengers are two former MLAs — Raj Kumar Yadav from the CPIML-Liberation and Nizamuddin Ansari from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

The JMM and CPIML-Liberation are allies but are in a “friendly fight” in this seat. Ansari was briefly with the JVM(P) and it was assumed that Marandi would have a cakewalk with the division of INDIA bloc votes. But a twist in the race came when Marandi’s former associate, Niranjan Rai, decided to contest as an Independent. Rai, one of the wealthiest candidates in Jharkhand, is a member of the powerful Bhumihar community.

On Saturday, Assam chief minister and Jharkhand BJP co-incharge Himanta Biswa Sarma and party MP Nishikant Dubey landed near Rai’s Papilo village here in a chopper, picked him up and flew him to a rally in Rajdhanwar where Union home minister Amit Shah inducted him into the party. Although his name remains on the ballot, Rai has pledged his support for the BJP.

At the CPIML-Liberation rally on Sunday, Yadav slammed Marandi as a “coward”. “Whether Niranjan or me or anyone else wins, why murder democracy? This is the first time a Union home minister sent a chopper to win an election. Babulalji darpok hain,” he said to the crowd.

Yadav warned voters. “Be on guard for the next three days. If you take Adani’s money, then for five years, BJP people will ignore you…. Where was the JMM candidate when crimes were committed against Muslims? It is the MaLe (the popular Hindi acronym for CPIML-Liberation) that fights your battles.”

Barber Bhuvaneshwar Thakur is in the thick of the “battle” — an old contest between lower castes and Bhumihar landlords here in which MaLe has represented the former.

“There is a ridge in our hamlet of Khanrhara over which we need a road to be built as people who are ill or pregnant women have to be carried to the highway 200m away. The Bhumihars have prevented this as they’re jealous that we now own motorcycles. Even in this day and age such a petty mindset prevails here. The only party that takes up the problems of us lower castes is MaLe. But in this election, kaun aage hai?” he asked.

His customer Yogendra Yadav, a flour mill owner in Karmatand village agreed. “The BJP had promised a road, a high voltage electricity line, and a water pipeline. (Local BJP MP) Annpurna Devi had visited our village, but it has not happened,” he said.

Yogendra added: “We knew Niranjan would go back to the BJP. He is rich and needs the party to protect him from litigation. I don’t think Babulalji can solve our problems. He has big responsibilities in his party. Unless Nizamuddinji withdraws, Babulalji is set to win.”

At a food stall in Mansadih nearby, local Bhumihar landlord Saryu Pandey pointed out that roads and other civic works are lacking everywhere, not just in the settlements of lower castes.

“Jai Shri Ram (referring to the Ayodhya temple built during the Modi regime) should win. But I would have voted for Niranjan as Babulal can’t get any work done. Our boys go and work in juice shops in Hyderabad as there is no employment here.”

His friend Jagdish Yadav said: “I can’t say who is best for Dhanwar but in Ranchi, we should have the same party in power as at the Centre. PM Modi controls everything anyway.”

All Muslim elders of Lalbazar village gathered at Shafi Ahmed Ansari’s dhaba at sunset on Sunday to discuss whom to vote for.

“I had voted for Babulalji last time,” said Ansari whose walls have JMM posters. “But he joined the BJP and became unapproachable…. Relations between Hindus and Muslims are good here. No one has ever said a rude thing to me. But whenever there is a hint of some tension, MaLe is here for us.”

Abdul Kareem, the eldest of the lot, chanted “Nizamuddin” and “Raj Kumar” a few times, like in a trance. “You are from Delhi. Tell us whom to vote for,” he asked this reporter.

“MaLe is always there for everyone, but the question is kaun aage hai,” Kareem said.

Jharkhand votes on November 20