In Nalanda there are ten candidates in fray out of which only three are actually in contest. George as JD (U) candidate himself, Gaya Singh a Rajya Sabha MP as CPI candidate and CPI (ML) nominee Surendra Rai. A Samajwadi Party candidate (Mulayam Singh Yadav's party, Shiv Shankar Prasad) is also in the race. "George Sahab" as he is lovingly called by his supporters had defeated his nearest rival from the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the last elections by a margin of over 1,15,670 votes and had polled in 50.27 per cent votes.

This year too, the Union defence minister is sailing comfortably as the 2.5 lakh Kurmi voters (Nitish Kumar's vote bank in Bihar) have expressed their solidarity with George. Apart from the Kurmis who dominate the constituency, the Schedule Caste and Tribe and the MY (Muslim-Yadav) combination comes much below the list.

This time round Laloo's RJD has not fielded any candidate from Nalanda, but in a surprise move Laloo had visited Nalanda sometime back and announced his support for the CPI candidate Gaya Singh. However, he made it clear that there was no seat adjustment with the CPI in this election. Gaya Singh is a Bhumihar by caste and since a minister in Rabri's cabinet - Baidyanath Pandey quit a few days ago and joined JD (U), the entire Bhumihar community also has shifted its loyalty towards "George Sahab".

Not only has George nursed his constituency even during his hectic days of managing ministerial work, but he has also taken care to see that the people of Nalanda after 50 years of Independence get a clean drinking water.Says Lalit Kumar, an employee in the municipal corporation -- "Whatever be the case, at least George has given us clean water to drink by building this water tank by using his MP fund. The RJD government doesn't even bother to look into such basic things of life. We will vote for him (George Fernandes) and make sure that he uses his fund properly yet again."

Also, since George Fernandes has always been in the news since he got elected last election, he has an added advantage. "We know George and his role in the Kargil war. He has done us proud and has saved the nation from humiliation".

Now since the polling is to take place on September 25 here, such is the confidence of the Union defence minister that he took out time to visit Madhepura (from where Sharad Yadav and Laloo Yadav are fighting) and campaign for Sharad Yadav on September 23.