Contesting as a candidate of the Nationalist Congress Party, Suraj says his move to contest the elections is primarily aimed at exposing the hypocrisy of the candidates who are outsiders. The Madhepura Yuva Morcha has been for the past one year spearheading a movement against outsiders. They say every time the people of Madhepura are defeated because outsiders win in the constituency. After stepping into Parliament they simply forget their commitments and turn their back on the constituency.

The constituency has a large number of educated and much revered Yadav families. But this affluent lot, which wields a lot of political andeconomic clout, is not bothered about the state of the constituency which seems to have been bypassed by development. The district lacks even basic health facilities. So, this time the Morcha, led by Suraj Yadav, has raised its voice for the common people and the poor.

Since Sharad Yadav lost the elections last time, the anger against him is somewhat muted. But the name of Laloo to them is like a red rag to a bull. Suraj complains: ``He makes hollow promises and tries to exploit caste sentiments. While the people, particularly Yadavs, look up to him as their leader, he totally ignores the need to provide even basic facilities and amenities in the area. The district even lacks proper roads; all the asphalted roads have developed potholes. But there is none to look after these problems.''

The Morcha's movement is becoming one for upholding the self-respect of the constituents but caste is not far from their mind. An activist of the Morcha points out: ``The Majhauts and Krishaouts, sub-castes of Yadavs (fromthe upper echelons), have been of late trying to maintain distance from Laloo. Ninety per cent of the Yadavs of Madhepura belong to the Majhaut sub-caste. They feel his politics is alienating them from the mainstream and pushing them into a corner.'' Laloo's style of playing one sub-caste against another has boomeranged and the Yadavs, who till 1998 were united, are not thinking on voting on these lines.

The Yadavs are also said to be angry over the disrespect shown by Laloo for elderly Yadav leaders and his over-dependence on his brothers-in-law and musclemen.