(From left) Chief minister Nitish Kumar felicitates the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya on Tuesday, a day ahead of his Seva Yatra in Siwan. Picture by Suman

Patna, Jan. 10: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s visit to Siwan district, bordering the election-bound Uttar Pradesh, is expected to serve twin purposes — improve JD(U)’s poll prospects in the constituency as well as in the neighbouring state.

Nitish received open admiration from the people of Siwan after he executed the speedy trial system that effectively “liberated” the region from the grip of the dreaded don, Md Shahabuddin.

Still, the JD(U) does not enjoy as much of political control over Siwan as it has in other parts of the state. Nitish is likely to work for expanding his sway on Siwan during his Seva Yatra, beginning tomorrow.

Nitish’s ascendancy to power in 2005 spelt doom for Shahabuddin, who found himself confined behind the bars. The court, subsequently, put the “Saheb”, as Shahabuddin was referred to more out of fear rather than reverence, on trial and convicted him in four cases of murder and kidnapping. Shahabuddin, an accused in over 40 cases, including murder and armed raids on police forces, is serving life term in two cases.

While the people of Siwan, admittedly, got “azaadi (freedom)” from the virtual reign of terror that Shahabuddin had unleashed on the region for almost a decade, Nitish’s JD(U) hoped for an electoral dividend in return. However, the party failed to capitalise on its action in the constituency.

Siwan happened to be one of the two Lok Sabha constituencies, along with Banka in southeastern Bihar, which saw JD(U) rebels-turned-independent nominees pulling coupe when the NDA’s wave was lashing other parts of the state. A Dal rebel, Omprakash Yadav, entered the Siwan poll fray and romped home comfortably against RJD’s Heena Sahab, wife of the incarcerated Shahabuddin.

Nitish later admitted that he had erred in selecting the party nominee for Siwan. Omprakash, originally, a JD(U) cadre, had contested on his party’s ticket against Shahabuddin in the past and had emerged as a “symbol” of struggle against the atrocities perpetrated by Shahabuddin. A denial of ticket to Omprakash generated sympathy for him among the voters who sent him to the portals of Lok Sabha, defeating the official JD(U) nominee, Brishen Patel.

While inspecting the government schemes that he ostensibly does during his Seva Yatra, the chief minister is likely to procure feedback on Omprakash and also watch his actions to plan for the next Lok Sabha elections on the prestigious Siwan seat.

His Seva Yatra in Siwan will also enable Nitish get a feedback on the mood prevailing in the election-bound eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The markets, trade and education centres in Mariwa, Darauli and Guthani towns in Siwan are directly linked to Lar and Bhatpar in Deoria districts of eastern UP.

Many of the local leaders including the dons in the area — Satish Pandey of Gopalganj, Bihar, and Harishankar Tiwary of Gorakhpur, UP — have their supporters and henchmen operating in both the states.