Satish Nagar, part of flood-prone Khagaria district that voted on Monday, clings on to its week of fame nearly 50 years ago. The village was named after Satish Prasad Singh, who was chief minister, albeit briefly - from January 28 to February 5, 1968.

"None of his predecessors or successors achieved what Satish Prasad Singh could in his brief stint. He is different from all other chief ministers," said his namesake here, Satish Kumar, a medical practitioner.

In a way Satish is right. No chief minister, from Sri Krishna Sinha to incumbent Nitish Kumar dared name their native place after themselves. "We have not heard of Lalu Prasad or his wife Rabri Devi naming their native places in Gopalganj district after themselves. Or of Nitish changing the name of his native village Kalyan Bigha in Nalanda district. But Satish Prasad Singh has this to his credit," the physician proudly said.

Satish Nagar - a non-descript village in Gogari sub-division of flood-prone Khagaria district, was earlier called Korchhakka. It was renamed on Satish's suggestion once he became chief minister in 1968. Elderly inhabitants of Satish Nagar, around 40km east of the Khagaria district headquarters town, still recall the day the young "son of the soil" was chosen to lead the state in what was a stopgap weeklong arrangement.

"Everyone was elated. It was akin to Diwali here. Sweets were distributed and people exchanged pleasantries," Suresh Prasad Singh, an octogenarian, said.

Satish Prasad was first elected MLA from the Parbatta Assembly seat on a Sanjukta Socialist Party ticket in 1967 and went to Lok Sabha in 1980 from Khagaria. His biggest contribution as chief minister, residents recall, was putting an end to the loan recovery drive against farmers. The entire district was affected by floods, which had damaged crops. The last thing the disgruntled farmers needed then was a knock from the loan recovery team. They heaved a sigh of relief when a government order called off the drive.

Contrast that with leaders today. "No leader talks of farmers' problems these days. See the plight of those who grow bananas and maize, two crops on which the region's economy thrives. They have to sell their produce at a minimal price (maize for Rs 10 per kg and bananas at Rs 80-90 a dozen). The only bridge at Dumari, a lifeline for most residents, was damaged two years ago but has not been repaired since. People have to depend on country boats to ferry consignments from village to market as seven rivers - the Ganga, Koshi, Budhi Gandak, Gandak, Mahananda, Bagmati and Karai - surround Khagaria district. Most parts of the district remained submerged under floodwater," the physician said.

In fact the flood problem here cost Emperor Akbar's accountant, Todarmal, his job. Legend has it that Akbar debarred Todarmal from land survey work after the latter failed to meet the deadline set for Khagaria. The vast track of land surrounded by rivers proved to be Todarmal's downfall. This is why Khagaria is also called fark kiya (which means to debar).

Water remains a problem to this day.

At Beldaur Bazar, Maheshwar Thakur said maize was exported to Gujarat from Khagaria. Over 60 rakes of maize have already been exported to Gujarat and other cities this season. However, residents have to pay Rs 20 each to cross the river to reach Beldaur from nearby villages. It takes more than two hours to cross the river by boat, which is the only means of transport in flood-affected parts of the district. Sujeet Kumar, who runs a tea stall at Mansi, said the Aguani ghat bridge, the foundation stone of which was laid two years ago, is incomplete. Similar is the fate of the Khagaria-Kusheshwar Sthan railway line. "You people talk about development. Where is development? Development in Patna does not mean people in other parts have benefited," Sujeet said. Anger against the present dispensation was writ large on his face.

Manohar Chaurasia, sipping tea nearby, could not restrain himself and said: "Lalu had given backward castes voice and self-respect.

People of his own caste let him down. But joining hands with Nitishji has brightened the prospects of the Grand Alliance forming forming the next government," he said.

Others of Chaurasia caste, however, disagreed. "We need industry. I have stayed in Gujarat and Maharashtra. People look down upon Bihar as we don't have industry here," Ram Nandan Chaurasia said. He said he would support the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming election. The scenario in Khagaria was different. Rajesh Kumar alias Rohit Kumar, the son of Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular state president Shakuni Choudhary, is trying to wrest Khagaria from three-term MLA Poonam Devi, wife of former MLA and muscleman Ranbir Yadav.

Rana Awadesh of Kaithi village said: "We need a milk cooling plant to boost cattle farming and milk production in the area." Work on the proposed mega food park at Mansi is yet to take off.

Campaign came to an end on Saturday but voters remain confused. "Lalu has given backward castes a voice but people of his caste gave him a bad name," said Bharat Singh, taking a break from a game of cards at the temple on the outskirts of Satish Nagar. He said it would be difficult to predict the result this time. "There is a keen contest between Ramanuj Choudhary of the BJP and Ramnandan Singh of the JDU in Parbatta. The presence of Suhail Mehta of Pappu Yadav's Lok Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) has made the contest triangular," he said.

Both the BJP and JDU nominees belong to the dominant Bhumihar caste while Mehta is a Koeri (OBC). Of 2.84 lakh voters in Parbatta, around 40,000 are Bhumihars, 35,000 Yadavs, 34,000 Muslim, 35,000 Kushwahas (Koeries) and 27,000 Chaurasias. The rest is shared by other castes.

The JDU represents all four seats - Alauli (reserved), Parbatta, Khagaria and Beldaur.

Khagaria district voted on Monday