Vehicular movement has been stopped at Birgunj-Raxaul border point between India and Nepal and the border has been sealed as a security measure ahead of the second phase of Bihar Assembly elections to be held on November 11.
As part of tight security arrangements for the elections, various points on the India-Nepal border have been closed for 72 hours. “Elections are to be held in India’s Bihar on November 11. For security reasons, we have banned crossing the border,” Assistant Chief District Officer, Mahottari, Sanjay Kumar Pokharel told ANI. He further said, “All border outposts in Mahotari district have been sealed… The border outposts were closed from 6 pm yesterday (Saturday).”
Meanwhile, campaigning for the second phase of Bihar assembly elections ended on Sunday, with top leaders of both the NDA and the grand alliance making their final appeals to voters ahead of voting on November 11. Union Home Minister Amit Shah struck a strong nationalist tone while addressing a massive rally in Sasaram and warned of a “decisive response” to any future terror attack. Additionally, he also announced plans for a defense corridor in Bihar. Shah said, “On this sacred ground of Shaktipeeth, I am saying, if terrorists fire even one bullet, we will respond with a bullet.” He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will set up an ordnance factory in the state.
In Patna, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary confirmed the unity of the NDA and said that if the NDA returns to power, Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister. He said, “Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister today and will remain so in future also.”
On the NDA side, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh presented the election as a choice between development and the “Jungle Raj” of the past. He said in rallies in Gaya and Kaimur, “You have to decide whether to make Bihar a developed Bihar or to take it back to jungle raj. India will become developed only when Bihar is developed.” He announced that Bihar will soon have its own defense corridor to boost local industries and employment.
The election campaign has now stopped and Bihar is standing at a critical juncture. The second phase of voting will be held on November 11 and the results will be declared on November 14. The results will decide whether Bihar will remain under the NDA’s “double engine” government or the grand alliance will return under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav.
