It is predominantly a locality of people belonging to the backward Dhanuk caste.

As part of the Har Ghar Dastak programme, the leader visiting the households has to ask four questions of the residents.

♦ Do you feel development has taken place in the past 10 years when Nitish has been in power

♦ Do you think that development work has been done for people of all castes and communities

♦ Do you think that development has been scripted by Nitish

♦ Do you want to see Nitish back in power

The Telegraph posed the same questions to some of the Shivchakmal residents on Tuesday and their ans-wers would be music to Nitish's ears.

"Nitish is responsible for whatever development has taken place in our area and I would definitely support him in the coming Assembly election," said Bablu Mahto, who runs a grocery shop here.

So were the opinions of farmers Parmanand Mahto and Prayag Mandal. The only difference was about their commitment to vote for Nitish's party.

While Prayag appeared firm about his decision to vote for the candidate who would be with Nitish, Parmanand refused to show the same spirit. "Let the election come. Nitish ji is a good man but so is our local MLA. I would take a call regarding my support at the time of election," he said.

Government agencies have been scurrying to clean up the place in anticipation of Nitish's visit.

The Patna Municipal Corporation has pressed into service a team of eight sanitation officials, who are working at Shivchakmal for the past three days and would be doing so till July 2.

"Normally, we undertake sanitation work in this area once in a week but as soon as the news regarding the CM's visit came, we are cleaning the area daily," said Lal Babu, the sanitation inspector of the locality. The area falls under ward No. 61 of the PMC.

A separate team of the civic body is busy sinking a hand pump and the work is likely to be finished by Tuesday evening itself.

"The hand pump had been sanctioned earlier and its sinking work should not be linked with the CM's visit," said the PMC field staff who was supervising the work.

Even the Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) team was seen in the locality. One of the team members, who requested anonymity, said: "Based on a complaint received during the CM's janata durbar, we are installing six electric poles here. We have been asked to finish the work by Tuesday evening."

Senior officials of Pesu, however, refused to speak much on the issue, claiming that just routine work was being carried out. "You may find several localities where such works are being done. No point linking this work to the CM's visit," one of them said.

Officials may have their own way of presenting things but the residents appeared more than happy for the work being done ahead of Nitish's visit. "Who does not want good work? I am more than happy," said Dinanath Mahto, a local farmer.