Prakash Jha hopes to be third-time lucky

Far from the madding crowd of tinsel town, film maker Prakash Jha has entered the Bihar politics where he is trying his luck for the third consecutive time from West Champaran Lok Sabha seat.

Ten years back, it was called Bettiah parliamentary seat. But post-delimitation, it’s known as West Champaran due to its historical significance. It was Champaran from where Gandhiji launched his satyagraha against the British in 1917.

Incidentally, Jha had also come up with his “Satyagraha” last year, but it was not an agitation. It was an Amitabh Bachchan-starrer movie loosely based on Anna Hazare’s movement. Having dealt with all top abhinetas (actors), Jha is desperate to become a neta.

“Twice I applied for the job of public representative. And on both the occasions, my applications were rejected. I have come to you again for the third time. Hope this time you won’t reject my job application,” Jha says in chaste Bhojpuri at every rally he addresses in and around Bettiah, his home-town.

Jha had contested the 2004 Lok Sabha polls as an Independent from Bettiah, but had to bite the dust at the hustings. In 2009, he entered the poll fray as Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party nominee, only to be trounced again. In 2014, he has changed colours for greener pastures. He is now Nitish’s candidate from the historical place where the JD(U) is hoping against hope that Jha is third time lucky.

However, in this Brahmin and Vaishya-dominated constituency, Jha’s problem has been compounded after the RJD fielded former union minister Raghunath Jha. The battle between two Jhas has brought cheers on the face of sitting BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, who is not only riding high on Modi wave but also commands respect in the region. Sanjay’s father Madan Prasad Jaiswal was a three-term MP from here.

But Prakash Jha hopes voters this time would rise above caste, creed and religion and vote for Nitish’s good work.