Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, October 26
The high-voltage political campaign for the first phase of assembly election in 71 constituencies in Bihar came to an end on Monday.
The constituencies across the 16 districts would go to the polls in the first phase of elections on October 28.
Leading the NDA charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew down to address as many as three rallies where he urged the people to vote for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to facilitate alliance return to power in Bihar.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whose party is contesting the elections in alliance with Lalu Prasad’s RJD and three Left parties, also chipped in with two rallies.
Modi, as also other BJP star campaigners like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and party president Jagat Prakash Nadda repeatedly cited Ram temple at Ayodhya, scrapping of Article 370 and law against triple talaq as achievements of the government at the Centre and attacked the opposition for opposing these.
The 69-year-old Chief Minister, who is also the JD (U) president, is seeking a fourth term in power. He carried out a strenuous campaign that began with a series of virtual rallies followed by dozens of election meetings where he has been physically present, including two where he shared the stage with the Prime Minister.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has been named by his party as its Chief Ministerial candidate, also ran an indefatigable campaign which comprised rallies, video messages relayed through the social media and press conferences.
Massive turnouts and enthusiastic response from the crowds at his rallies have been a surprise for political observers who have underscored that the ambience spoke more of the anti-incumbency than the appeal of the former Deputy CM.
Another huge draw has been Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan who stunned all with his decision to go solo in the assembly polls. The 37 years old began campaigning actively rather late, only after the customary mourning after the death of his father Ram Vilas Paswan was over on October 20.
Altogether 1066 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of elections, of them 114 are females.
The voting in the first phase on Wednesday will decide the fate of nearly half-a-dozen ministers of Nitish Kumar cabinet including Krishnandan Varma, Prem Kumar, Jay Kumar Singh, Santosh Kumar Nirala, Vijay Sinha and Ram Narayan Mandal.
Among the prominent parties while RJD is contesting on 42 of the 71 seats in the first phase, JD (U) candidates are in 41 constituencies, BJP (29), Congress (21) and LJP nominees are in fray at 41 places.
