Election fever gripped Bihar on Friday as nominations closed for the first phase of Assembly polls. Over 1,250 candidates filed for 121 seats going to polls on November 6, with numbers still rising from districts.
The ruling NDA projected a confident campaign, while the opposition INDIA bloc, comprising RJD, Congress, Left parties, and VIP, remained in disarray over seat-sharing. Multiple constituencies may see “friendly fights” among bloc candidates unless withdrawals are made by October 20.
Congress allowed RJD leader Rishi Mishra to contest from Jale, but RJD did not reciprocate in Lalganj, where Shivani Shukla of RJD faces Congress candidate Aditya Kumar Raja. Similar RJD-Congress contests appear likely in Vaishali and Kahalgaon, while Congress may face CPI candidates in Bachhwara, Rajapakar, and Rosera.
VIP, which won four seats in 2020, may compete against RJD candidates in Tarapur and Gaura Bauram. Its leader Mukesh Sahani stated his goal is to see the INDIA bloc form the next government, with himself as Deputy CM.
Also read: Shah urges Bihar voters to reject RJD’s ‘disguised jungle raj'
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav seeks a third consecutive term from Raghopur. First-phase contests also include BJP deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary (Tarapur) and Vijay Kumar Sinha (Lakhisarai), and ministers Mangal Pandey (BJP) and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary (JDU).
The BJP launched a high-voltage campaign, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah rallying in Saran and holding a “buddhijivi sammelan” in Patna. Shah criticised the RJD-Congress alliance and reaffirmed NDA unity with CM Nitish Kumar.
NDA partners BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each, leaving the remaining constituencies for smaller allies LJP (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
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