Roy has represented Dhanbad thrice in the Lok Sabha but has also lost the election four times. He is expected to be in the fray once again next month.

In the last election, both Congress and the RJD had extended their support to him and yet he had lost narrowly. This time neither Congress nor the RJD has made any overture to him so far. And, typically, Roy himself has not bothered to either call Laloo Prasad Yadav or call on Sonia Gandhi.

All the parties, he explains with a smile, would like to see him defeated. He makes them uncomfortable. They would like him to go crawling to them, accept all their whims and share in the spoils.

“Usually the most corrupt speak the loudest against corruption and never tire of asking questions,” he laughs.

Even when parties extend their support, he adds, their workers seldom fall in line. On the other hand, alliances turn out to be a millstone round the neck, because he finds it difficult to defend the helping hand from tainted leaders.

So, indications are that there will be a quadrangular contest in Dhanbad.