Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, October 31
Three Left parties contesting the Bihar assembly elections in alliance with the RJD and the Congress claim Bihar results will have an impact on the outcome of the elections in four states going to polls next year.
The elections in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry are due in 2021.
The three Left parties have fielded their candidates in 29 constituencies of Bihar.
CPI leaders, D Raja and CPM leader, Sitaram Yechuri who are campaigning jointly in Bihar along with the CPI (ML) leader, Deepkankar Bhattacharya claimed here the Left unity in Bihar has given credence to the Grand Alliance led by RJD. If the Bihar experiment succeeds, it will be tried at the national level too, they hoped. Bihar results will have a direct effect on national politics.
The Left leaders said for the first time, their agenda of employment, loan waiver to farmers and problems of migrant workers became the main agenda in the electioneering too. Now, both the Grand Alliance and the NDA are explaining their future stand on the two issues by promising ten to 19 lakh jobs.
They alleged there was an attempt to divert attention of the people from basic issues through violence during the immersion of idols of Durga at Munger, which was a routine annual affair. But, just on the eve of the assembly elections in Munger on October 28, an attempt was made by the local administration to give a communal colour of violence by claiming anti-social elements and not police had resorted to firing on the devotees.
Former president of the JNU students Union and CPI polit bureau member, Kanhaiya Kumar is actively campaigning in North Bihar constituencies drawing huge crowds of youths. He is focussing on the problems of unemployment and migration of workers during the Lockdown period.
CPI (ML) which is contesting on 19 seats has grass root level presence in Bhojpur, Jahananabd, Arwal, Siwan and Katihar districts. These areas were worst affected during left wing extremism violence and caste clashes. In the 2015 elections, three candidates of CPI (ML) were successful. Party has a strong cadre of workers among the extremely backwards and scheduled castes in central Bihar districts. A former JNU students union president, Chandrashekhar who was gunned down by the supporters of once dreaded outlaw, Md Shahbuddin, was from Siwan and Kanhaiya, an upper caste Bhumihar is from Begusarai.
CPI (ML) has fielded its candidates in two urban constituencies of the state capital too. Its candidates in Digha and Phulwarisharif are giving tough fight to the NDA candidates.
CPI is contesting on six seats and CPI (M) on four seats.
