Ram Vilas Paswan's village still in lantern age

The RJD has fielded Krishna Yadav, the second wife of criminal turned politician Ranvir Yadav. The party is banking upon the Yadav and Muslim votes.

LJP candidate Mahboob Ali Qaiser is eyeing the support of Paswan's castemen - Dusadhs as well as Muslims, the backward Koeris, castemen of Rashtriya Lok Samta Party chief Upendra Kushwaha and social support base of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Dusadhs and Koeris have a sizeable population in Khagaria.

The LJP and RLSP have joined hands with the BJP to contest polls in Bihar.

Mahesh Singh in Khagaria town said elections in the region are contested on the caste plank, and demands for electricity find little resonance with the political leadership.

"Development is not an issue. What matters is caste... electricity or lantern age is not going to decide the polls outcome," Singh said.