Bihar Election 2020: Campaigning for first phase ends today

Date: 26/10/2020

The campaigning for the primary phase of Bihar Assembly Elections is about to finish by today evening. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising, among others, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal(United), is up against the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan,' comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left parties. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing rallies, top leaders of both the alliances are making a last-ditch effort to woo the voters as just one day is left for campaigning for the primary phase of elections.

Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar is that the NDA's chief ministerial face and is engaged in holding rallies one after the another.

Several big leaders including BJP national president JP Nadda, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan will hold election rallies today, in favour of their party and allies candidates.

A total of 71 assembly constituencies cover 16 districts will attend polls within the first phase of elections on October 28 and 31,000 polling place are established.

As per the committee , within the first phase of elections, the fate of 1,066 candidates are going to be decided by 2,14,6,960 voters. Security has been tightened in Naxal-affected areas.

According to the commission, the State will choose 3 phases--On October 28, November 3, November 7 and therefore the results are going to be announced on November 10.

In the past week, the parties released their manifestos and sharpened their attacks on rival parties. While BJP and JD (U) leaders are attacking RJD for its "Jungle-Raaj" (Lawlessness) in their past tenure, RJD leaders constantly pitching their pre-poll promise of providing 10 lakh jobs to youths.

Chirag Paswan, chief of the LJP--a former ally of the NDA--has been vocal in his criticism of Kumar, who is that the chief ministerial candidate of the NDA. He has, however, pledged support to the Prime Minister, calling himself as "Modi's Hanuman".

Tejashwi Yadav has been constantly attacking and ridiculing the Chief Minister for being "physically and mentally tired".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a robust attack on RJD and its allies in Bihar and promoted NDA government's achievements including abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and therefore the law against instant triple talaq.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the NDA led governments at the centre and therefore the state over unemployment, transgressions by China in eastern Ladakh and said that folks of the state were looking for a change and also alleged that the govt is functioning for the advantage of select industrialists.

BJP is in alliance with JDU within the state and hopes to return to power in Bihar under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The NDA is in direct contest with coalition comprising of RJD, Congress and left parties.

In 2015 Assembly polls, Nitish Kumar was the Chief Ministerial face of the Mahagathbandhan as JDU had parted ways with the NDA. However, in 2017 Nitish had returned to the NDA fold.

In 2015, RJD and JDU fought the election together as a part of the Mahagathbandhan and won 178 constituencies out of the entire 243.

However, differences emerged between the RJD and therefore the refore the JD(U) and the latter ended its association with the grand alliance after 20 months. It came back to the NDA fold in 2017.