Videsh Singh displays his election symbol at Lesliganj market. (Prashant Mitra)

Panki, Dec. 15: Maoists’ gunshots drown the people’s voice here. Election campaign vehicles are being torched almost everyday while offices of candidates are being attacked.

Who will ultimately win the Panki Assembly seat, a Naxalite hotbed, is a million-dollar question. The battle has become all the more interesting with several former Maoists jumping into the fray. Not to forget that sitting MLA Videsh Singh is now fighting as an Independent.

RJD denied a ticket to Videsh and fielded incarcerated former CPI(Maoist) rebel Keshwar Yadav. But Videsh is again trying his luck as an Independent. He won this Assembly seat in 2000 as an Independent, but the victory certificate was issued to his JD(U) rival Madhu Singh.

While Videsh fought a case in the high court, Madhu enjoyed the benefits of being a minister in the governments led by Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda. Finally, Videsh got a favourable judgement from both the high court and Supreme Court.

In 2005, Videsh won this seat as an RJD nominee. But in the last Lok Sabha elections, Keshwar of CPI-ML (Liberation) secured the highest number of votes in this Assembly segment. As a result, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad decided to bring Yadav to his party fold and also gave him a ticket to contest the Assembly seat.

The JMM has fielded Surendra Yadav, but a sizeable section of party workers is extending tacit support to Keshwar also because of the latter’s closeness to incarcerated Palamau MP Kameshwar Baitha.

“Our party’s support base is improving steadily. Our performances will not be affected because Keshwar has left us. In 2005, we got over 23,500 votes. In the last Lok Sabha elections, our party candidate bagged 30,430 votes. And our workers are better known for their loyalty to party organisation,” said CPI-ML (Liberation) contestant Kavita Singh.

JD(U)’s Madhu, too, enjoys excellent rapport with rebel outfits. The Congress has fielded Sajjad Khan. Bhojpuri singer Manoj Tiwari and some Bollywood celebrities recently campaigned for him.

“All will disappear. Several parties offered me a ticket to contest from this seat. But voters asked me to fight as an Independent. I can never ignore their wishes,” said Videsh Singh.