61-year-old movie director Prakash Jha on the campaign trail in West Champaran

Prakash Jha, famous for films on socio-political themes such as Gangaajal, Rajneeti and Satyagraha, is hoping to be third time lucky by unseating sitting MP Sanjay Jaiswal of the BJP in the Paschim (West) Champaran Lok Sabha seat in Bihar.

Contesting on a JD(U) ticket, the 61-year-old movie director is among the 12 contestants from the constituency.

According to political observers, apart from Jaiswal and the RJD's Raghunath Jha, who was MP from here in 2004, Prakash Jha is also seen as a strong contender for this seat where over 12.2 lakh electors go to vote on May 12.

Jha, a native of Bettiah, administrative headquarters of West Champaran district, is hoping to cash in on the goodwill created by the development undertaken by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the area in the past eight years.

Jha had unsuccessfully contested as an independent in 2004 and on an LJP ticket in 2009 from the same constituency.

Political observers say the JD(U) contestant will have a tough time against the BJP's Jaiswal as the so-called 'Modi wave' has found some resonance. Even Jha's fellow Brahmins, who constitute over 1.25 lakh of the population, are seen as favouring the BJP, they added.

The CM has addressed a large number of poll rallies in favour of the filmmaker to help him secure a good footing.

Besides upper castes, Jha is betting on support from the 1.50 lakh Muslims and the over 1.30 lakh backward and extremely backward caste members--the core vote bank of Nitish Kumar.

Although the BJP's Jaiswal, who is battling anti-incumbency, defeated Jha in 2009, he is not leaving anything to chance.

Hema Malini, the saffron party's candidate from Mathura, addressed a rally in support of Jaiswal while Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in Bettiah on May 7.

Jaiswal, son of three-time BJP MP from Paschim Champaran, Madan Prasad Jaiswal, is perceived to be popular among the upper castes and young voters.

Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD's Raghunath Jha, an experienced campaigner in Bihar, is relying on the popularity of his leader.

He is also counting on the Yadavs, numbering around 1 lakh, together with the 1.5 lakh Muslims in this constituency.