Patna,(BiharTimes): The filing of nomination papers from Patliputra Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday by Indu Bhushan, son of slain Ranvir Sena chief, has given a new twist to the electoral battle in the constituency from which Misa Bharati, daughter of Lalu Prasad, is also a candidate.

As there is sizeable Bhumihar presence in at least three Assembly segments of this Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP candidate, Ram Kripal Yadav, would never consider this as a positive development. The BJP is relying heavily on this caste as there already are three Yadav stalwarts in the fray––Misa, Ram Kripal and Ranjan Yadav of Janata Dal (United).

Indu Bhushan filed his nomination papers as the candidate of Desi Kisan Party and not the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriwadi Kisan Sanghatan, the open outfit of banned Ranvir Sena.

Earlier he had announced to contest from his home turf, Ara. His father, Mukhiaji, had also unsuccessfully contested as an Independent from Ara in 2004 Lok Sabha election.

Ranvir Sena, a private militia of upper caste farmers, especially Bhumihars, is held responsible for a series of massacres of Dalits and other weaker sections of the society in 1990s.

The Ranvir Sena-Left extremists’ tussle took hundreds of lives in Bihar. But Mukhiaji met his end not at the hands of Maoists but was allegedly killed by Bhumihar henchmen, said to be close to Janata Dal (United) MLA, Sunil Pandey. Incidentally, the latter was himself a former Sena hitman.